Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:20:10 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert 08db37c5-1eb1-4d40-a580-0597bcee9139 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:20:10 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Citizen-Suit-Watch-Stormwater-Report-Supreme-Court-Holds-That-Stormwater-Discharges-From-Logging-Roads-Do-Not-Require-Clean-Water-Act-Permits-Federal-District-Court-Rejects-a-Similar-Stormwater-Citizen-Suit-Against-A-Utility b440836a-cb69-4537-a494-0515c98376d3 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:43:36 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Coal-Loading-Facility-and-Railroad-Win-Federal-Court-Endorsement-of-Clean-Water-Acts-Permit-Shield-Defense-and-Refusal-to-Expand-Clean-Water-Act-to-Wind-Borne-Dust 23e26da5-5925-4249-b3cb-58e25d9b9d8d Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:23:59 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/EPA-Announces-New-List-of-Chemicals-Targeted-for-Risk-Assessment-Under-TSCA-Including-20-Flame-Retardants 6830f4d3-515c-4a1d-98a2-b38fd09e22a5 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 10:25:42 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Big-Brown-Citizen-Suit-Survives-Motion-to-Dismiss 058bd360-cca2-4a9e-a55e-9d5a67550383 Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:48:58 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/California-Revises-Green-Chemistry-Regulations-Again d2eb8c97-5295-49ce-b7c4-95e9fb2c0aee Sun, 27 Jan 2013 20:11:30 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Commission-ALJ-Holds-Production-Operator-Liable-for-Part-50-Reporting-Violation-Even-Though-the-Temporary-Employment-Agency-Had-Reported-the-Injury a0da0089-4f1e-4484-afee-e094667efa0a Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:40:42 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Federal-Court-Dismisses-Surface-Coal-Mining-Citizen-Suit 7e093706-a801-48b1-a539-0e4f7d9033eb Wed, 09 Jan 2013 09:50:00 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/CITIZEN-SUIT-WATCH-Federal-District-Court-Grants-Victory-to-Farmer-and-Poultry-Integrator-After-Bench-Trial-in-Clean-Water-Act-Citizen-Suit 99786594-ce87-4b87-b568-4b3c191c4d6c Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:56:09 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/EPA-Reverses-Course-and-Promises-to-Withdraw-TSCA-Section-8d-Cadmium-Rule a279f542-874a-468b-8b9c-647f8978ca65 Fri, 14 Dec 2012 16:19:52 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/New-EPA-Regulations-on-Cadmium-Target-Manufacturers-and-Importers-of-Consumer-Products-Retail-Distributors-to-be-Targeted-Next 0de5f009-dd1b-468b-a7dd-481c5d058a69 Fri, 19 Oct 2012 13:54:29 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Two-Recent-Court-Decisions-Herald-Positive-Developments-for-Mine-Operators-in-105c-Whistleblower-Cases b33374ab-6b1c-4a35-beef-8f862aa44bf5 Mon, 22 Oct 2012 11:09:12 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/CITIZEN-SUIT-WATCH-Federal-District-Court-Opens-the-Door-to-Clean-Water-Act-Regulation-of-Agricultural-Tile-Drainage-Systems 7edfa762-6353-4ff5-96de-d7b4a2c95f89 Mon, 22 Oct 2012 11:12:01 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/CITIZEN-SUIT-WATCH-Federal-Court-Rejects-Citizen-Suit-Against-EPA-for-Alleged-Role-in-RINs-Fraud 0131ccfa-2c50-45af-965b-0e67c330667c Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:25:58 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/District-Court-Imposes-Migratory-Bird-Treaty-Act-Criminal-Liability-For-Takes-of-Migratory-Birds-By-Unprotected-Oil-Field-Equipment 8740efff-dba7-4122-812b-4d523670796f Thu, 13 Sep 2012 16:35:50 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/SEC-Releases-Final-Conflict-Minerals-Rules-with-Broad-Implications-for-Certain-Reporting-Companies ada8a468-f04e-4084-9572-f6840a67d2f8 Mon, 24 Sep 2012 14:33:26 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Federal-District-Court-Grants-Final-Declaratory-Relief-to-Energy-Resource-Producers-in-Marcellus-Shale-Region-Vacating-Harmful-US-Forest-Service-Sierra-Club-Settlement b45d5e22-8623-48d3-9c26-973c88b95cdc Mon, 22 Oct 2012 11:12:54 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Federal-Court-Rejects-EPA-Attempts-to-Regulate-Eastern-US-Coal-Mining-and-Sets-Aside-EPA-Final-Guidance a9ed1f1b-c574-4aff-a4eb-93b6624047b1 Mon, 22 Oct 2012 11:13:30 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/CITIZEN-SUIT-WATCH-Court-Rejects-RCRA-Citizen-Suit-Over-Diesel-Emissions-at-Railyards 51e34da9-dd21-407e-a43e-4c7b636c9066 Mon, 22 Oct 2012 11:14:03 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/CITIZEN-SUIT-WATCH-Sixth-Circuit-Holds-That-Citizen-Plaintiffs-Cannot-Sue-State-Officials-For-Failing-To-Enforce-Federal-Clean-Air-Act-Regulations 97c35e17-d6ae-4465-8a29-d95c9276cd9e Mon, 22 Oct 2012 11:14:42 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/CITIZEN-SUIT-WATCH-US-Supreme-Court-Agrees-to-Review-Ninth-Circuit-Decision-Requiring-Clean-Water-Act-Permits-for-Forest-Roads d90b8b75-af41-42c7-82b9-05781dc29e03 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 18:04:13 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/OSHA-Issues-Hazard-Alert-For-Worker-Exposures-During-Hydraulic-Fracturing-at-Oil-and-Gas-Drilling-Sites 9c99b707-0925-40d1-ae45-e5a14756dcbc Mon, 22 Oct 2012 11:15:10 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/CITIZEN-SUIT-WATCH-Fifth-Circuit-Precludes-Clean-Water-Act-Citizen-Suits-To-Enforce-Section-404-Permit-Conditions 5e624a44-267a-4d73-95cf-3588691e81da Mon, 22 Oct 2012 11:15:43 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/CITIZEN-SUIT-WATCH-Fifth-Circuit-Reverses-Dismissal-of-Citizen-Suit-Based-on-Pre-Existing-Consent-Decree a2ffa6cd-b0a9-4097-b7c3-4d46f6da5dd9 Fri, 04 May 2012 13:04:56 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/OSHA-Changes-to-MSDS-and-Chemical-Labeling-May-11-Public-Meeting-on-the-New-GHS-Standards bbf07a67-4856-4c44-8430-f2c57969286f Mon, 22 Oct 2012 11:16:11 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Supreme-Court-Allows-Pre-Enforcement-Jurisdictional-Challenges-To-EPA-Compliance-Orders-Applicability-Beyond-the-Clean-Water-Act-Is-Unclear fb95a57a-c6ef-4423-9bf1-b84cbbf22652 Tue, 27 Mar 2012 17:54:36 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Citizen-Suit-Watch-Federal-Court-Demands-EPA-Review-of-Nonpoint-Source-Regulations-As-Part-of-Water-Quality-Standard-Review 554c0451-382e-4511-8c8f-d69e6f5453a3 Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:05:49 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/CITIZEN-SUIT-WATCH-Supreme-Court-of-Illinois-Rejects-Attack-on-Mining-Permit-Reclamation-Plan 121d8d82-e317-4f85-9387-ab9abd2ab996 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:38:53 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Federal-Court-Rejects-Expansive-Interpretation-of-Criminal-Liability-Under-Migratory-Bird-Treaty-Act c85a7d7d-f702-4919-9f16-928e61182950 Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:11:08 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/CITIZEN-SUIT-WATCH-Tenth-Circuit-Rejects-Article-III-Standing-For-Local-District-Attorney-in-Multi-Party-Clean-Water-Act-Citizen-Suit 8b84d69c-eed5-4f31-bcbf-e385d2350ad5 Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:29:04 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Update-on-the-Polar-Bear-Endangered-Species-Act-Multidistrict-Litigation e29d10ae-d646-4cb4-96fb-c771761953ca Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:11:29 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/CITIZEN-SUIT-WATCH-Third-Circuit-Reverses-Lower-Courts-Dismissal-of-Citizen-Suit-on-Abstention-Grounds 7fc2f505-7f03-4885-a683-88ff58a153a2 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:10:21 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Crowell-Moring-Files-Amicus-Brief-In-Support-of-Cert-Petitions-Seeking-Review-of-the-Ninth-Circuits-Ruling-on-Clean-Water-Act-Permitting-for-Forest-Roads 4d3d9f2b-6c3b-4bc8-9253-32d301417d06 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:33:52 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Federal-Court-Rejects-EPA-Overreaching-Into-Clean-Water-Act-Section-404-Permitting-in-Victory-for-Crowell-Moring-Client-National-Mining-Association b482e33b-d768-4233-aa26-5b2e99f45a9c Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:33:00 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/CITIZEN-SUIT-WATCH-Court-Invalidates-Arizona-Legislation-That-Eliminated-Funding-Mechanism-For-A-Clean-Air-Act-State-Implementation-Plan 474af30c-3388-4fec-a66f-def27fa43b00 Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:49:48 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/BOEMRE-Proposes-Additional-SEMS-Program-Requirements da918d76-abe0-42fb-8574-aaa6ce191588 Mon, 26 Sep 2011 16:44:55 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Third-Circuit-Affirms-Injunctive-Relief-to-Resource-Producers-in-Marcellus-Shale-Region-of-Pennsylvania-Blocking-Harmful-NEPA-Settlement-That-Imposed-US-Forest-Service-Drilling-Ban-in-500-000-acre-Allegheny-National-Forest d51f5601-7847-4f68-a5f9-5535df84c3f9 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:44:38 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/CITIZEN-SUIT-WATCH-Second-Circuit-Demands-Listing-of-Specific-Contaminants-to-Satisfy-Notice-Requirements-for-RCRA-Citizen-Suits fb946d6c-9825-45a6-8185-49104f3048ff Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:27:50 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/CITIZEN-SUIT-WATCH-Tenth-Circuit-Adopts-Broad-View-of-Issue-Preclusion-and-Parens-Patriae-in-Affirming-Dismissal-of-Clean-Air-Act-Citizen-Suit 0b1e6679-517a-4399-910f-11e580b12569 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:25:27 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/CITIZEN-SUIT-WATCH-Court-Dismisses-a-Master-Complaint-in-the-Deepwater-Horizon-Multi-District-Litigation 1a21670b-f2e3-4ed9-a165-315915030cbd Fri, 01 Jul 2011 13:51:23 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/CITIZEN-SUIT-WATCH-District-Court-to-Enjoin-Use-of-Pesticide-Pending-Completion-of-Endangered-Species-Act-Consultation 0a6aad44-ea94-41ca-80b2-8d3e36ec67bc Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:02:18 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/CITIZEN-SUIT-WATCH-Ninth-Circuit-Rejects-CERCLA-Citizen-Suit-Jurisdiction-Over-Pursuit-of-UAO-Penalties 6551e49c-4af6-4808-96d7-d440a02430f9 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 14:47:05 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/State-of-New-York-Files-Suit-Against-Federal-Agencies-Seeking-Environmental-Review-of-Natural-Gas-Development-in-the-Delaware-River-Basin 737b432e-f637-4331-8208-35723ca44de3 Tue, 31 May 2011 11:22:42 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/CITIZEN-SUIT-WATCH-Ninth-Circuit-Asserts-Citizen-Suit-Jurisdiction-Over-Challenge-To-Longstanding-Regulation-And-Reaffirms-Clean-Water-Act-Permitting-Requirements-For-Forest-Roads 3b2e2981-e14c-4e39-ad98-1d17e3354f71 Mon, 16 May 2011 09:26:51 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/CITIZEN-SUIT-WATCH-State-Enforcement-Does-Not-Bar-RCRA-Citizen-Suit-As-Seventh-Circuit-Narrowly-Construes-Federal-Abstention e632775b-5745-462f-8045-3aa1cfccb02f Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:37:43 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Dodd-Frank-Financial-Reform-Act-Imposes-New-SEC-Reporting-Requirements-on-Publicly-Traded-Mine-Operators The financial reform law that Congress passed recently includes comprehensive new reporting requirements for publicly held companies that are also mine operators, or that have subsidiaries that are mine operators. The new law will take effect on or before August 20, 2010. 917a2250-78b4-4d5a-a25e-717b78235fbf Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:37:43 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Supreme-Court-Determines-No-Presumption-for-Injunctive-Relief-in-Environmental-Cases In an important decision, the United States Supreme Court today clarified the legal standard for halting actions in environmental cases. In Monsanto Co. v. Geertson Seed Farms, the Court determined that a nationwide permanent injunction on the planting of Roundup Ready alfalfa (RRA) ordered by a lower court and upheld by the Ninth Circuit was improper. Justice Alito wrote the opinion for a seven-Justice majority. 059c63fc-67ad-4699-a30a-6222aa5e45c1 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:37:43 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Commission-Approves-Climate-Disclosure-Guidance On January 27, 2010, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") approved, by a slight majority, the issuance of guidance on how existing public company-disclosure requirements may apply to climate change. A pre-publication copy of the guidance was made available on February 2, 2010 (see below). Unlike a law or rule promulgated pursuant to legal authority, the interpretive guidance is not legally binding. It is, nonetheless, significant as the SEC's first express statement regarding how climate change issues may implicate companies' disclosure requirements. bea8c16f-2bc6-43a1-a19b-cc5b6762cf47 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:37:43 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/EPA-Announces-Plans-To-Reconsider-Ozone-Air-Quality-Standards On September 16th, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) filed a notice with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit explaining that the agency will reconsider the primary and secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone. EPA plans to sign a proposed ozone NAAQS rule by December 21, 2009, and to take final action by August 31, 2009. If EPA acts to significantly tighten the ozone standards, many more areas of the country, including smaller communities and rural areas, could be considered to be in violation of either the primary or secondary ozone standard (or both). 6a49c41a-a516-4a79-abcc-53029690f85b Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:37:43 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Supreme-Court-Reverses-the-Ninth-Circuit-and-Restores-Order-to-Clean-Water-Act-Permitting-Rejecting-Reallocation-of-Permitting-Authority-Over-Discharges-of-Fill-Material-from-Corps-of-Engineers-to-EPA The U.S. Supreme Court today issued its opinion on the division of permitting authority over "fill material" under the Clean Water Act ("CWA") between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ("Corps"). In Coeur Alaska, Inc. v. Southeast Alaska Conservation Council ("SEACC"), the Court held that because the discharge at issue is defined by the agencies' regulations as "fill material," the gold mining operation at issue properly obtained its permit from the Corps under section 404 of the statute, rather than from EPA under the section 402 NPDES permit program. The Court also held that the agencies had properly concluded that EPA's new source performance standards for effluents do not apply to the discharge of fill material. b7fe47ac-0cef-46ce-83f3-7e211ab1ddfb Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:37:43 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/US-Supreme-Court-Issues-Significant-Reversal-in-Key-CERCLA-Case-Narrowing-Scope-of-Arranger-Liability-and-Upholding-Apportionment-Principles The U.S. Supreme Court issued a significant decision today regarding liability and apportionment under the Superfund law (known as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 et seq.). In Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway Co. v. U.S., by a margin of 8-1, the Court significantly narrowed the scope of "arranger" liability and upheld a district court's apportionment of liability based on divisibility of harm. For those entities currently subject to "arranger" liability, the decision creates an opportunity for possible reduction in CERCLA liability. 891e2ad2-4e34-4a92-882b-b301a3088034 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:37:43 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/EPA-Amends-Toxics-Release-Inventory-Reporting-Rules-for-2008-Chemical-Data Yesterday, the Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") published in the Federal Register the final rule implementing Congress's recent vacatur of the December 22, 2006 "Toxics Release Inventory Burden Reduction Final Rule," 71 Fed. Reg. 76932 ("Burden Reduction Rule"). This final rule was set into motion by the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, P.L. 111-8, enacted on March 11, 2009, where Congress pulled back the Burden Reduction Rule enacted by the Bush Administration. Since this action is being taken in compliance with a Congressional legislative mandate, EPA did not subject this rulemaking to notice and comment, but implements the final rule as effective immediately. The now-vacated Burden Reduction Rule had relaxed Toxics Release Inventory ("TRI") reporting for Persistent Bioaccumulative and Toxic ("PBT") chemicals and certain quantities of non-PBT chemicals. As a result of the legislation and the regulatory change, facilities must prepare more detailed "Form R" reports instead of simple "Form A" certifications ... 9606db74-b06f-4f33-b5b3-ac020234fb36 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:37:43 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/EPA-Proposes-Greenhouse-Gas-Endangerment-Finding Today, the Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") released a pre-publication copy of a long-anticipated proposal finding that greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions from new motor vehicles and their engines cause or contribute to air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health and welfare. This "endangerment finding" is EPA's first step towards regulating GHG emissions under the Clean Air Act ("CAA"). If finalized, the endangerment finding triggers a nondiscretionary duty for EPA to regulate GHG "tailpipe" emissions from mobile sources under CAA Section 202. 4acaaf0f-7cdd-4539-9373-2a847264d8df Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:37:43 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/EPA-Releases-Proposed-Rule-for-Mandatory-Greenhouse-Gas-Reporting On Tuesday, March 10, 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") released its much anticipated proposed rule for monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions, which is intended to collect data that is very likely to inform future legislative and regulatory climate change decisions. Congress directed EPA to use its Clean Air Act authority to develop the mandatory GHG reporting rule in the FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act. The proposal builds largely on work done under the previous Administration. 8087af0b-47a8-4f2d-9508-771e29b89685 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:37:43 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Public-Comment-Solicited-on-Proposed-Modifications-to-Endangered-Species-Act-Consultation-Process On August 11, 2008, Secretary of the Interior Kempthorne announced proposed changes to the regulations dealing with the interagency consultation process under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act ("ESA"). Under section 7, each federal agency (referred to as the "action agency") is responsible for ensuring, in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service ("Services"), that any action it authorizes, funds, or carries out is not likely to jeopardize any endangered or threatened species or adversely modify the critical habitat of any such species. Because of the broad statutory language of section 7, potential actions subject to this consultation process may include, for example, the issuance of permits under the Clean Water Act; the registration of pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act; and the award of timber harvest contracts under the National Forest Management Act. aad6f14c-3c9c-4943-9b93-efffda843a7b Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:37:43 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/EPA-Proposes-Significant-Expansion-of-Audit-Policy-to-Encourage-Environmental-Clean-Up-at-Newly-Acquired-Facilities Late last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency detailed its new Interim Approach to its Audit Policy, aimed at encouraging companies that acquire facilities to disclose, correct, and prevent the recurrence of violations. 73 Fed. Reg. 44,991 (Aug. 1, 2008). Specifically, the Interim Approach proposes to apply EPA's "Incentives for Self-Policing: Discovery, Disclosure, Correction and Prevention of Violations" ("Audit Policy") to "new owners" of facilities. The new policy would effectively apply to settlement of claims for civil penalties for any violation under the federal environmental statutes that EPA administers. 0fc73e06-32fe-4952-abfd-c3bac23dec4e Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:14:48 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Venezuela-Takes-Further-Steps-Against-International-Mining-and-Other-Natural-Resource-Companies WASHINGTON, D.C., May 19, 2008. Venezuela announced last week that it would put an end to new gold projects in the country and threatened further steps against existing mining and logging interests held by international companies. Environment Minister Yuviri Ortega said Venezuela will not give permits for any open-pit mines and will not allow companies to look for gold in its vast Imataca Forest Reserve. Ortega also said that the government was revising all of its mining and timber concessions. fdd20aae-215c-4053-a1fd-b66038203768 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:37:43 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Controversy-Over-Sage-Grouse-Threatens-Multiple-Use-Development-Across-11-Western-States In 2008, the U.S. Interior Department’s Fish and Wildlife Service will be reconsidering whether to propose listing the greater sage-grouse as an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. ESA listing could cause delays and other adverse impacts to mining and oil and gas operations, farming, grazing, construction, utility operations, and other activities in broad areas of sagebrush habitat occupied by sage-grouse in 11 western states. It is no secret that anti-development NGOs for many years have sought to use the legal protections of the ESA to block development activities over vast areas. The issue over the sage-grouse is significant as the current range of this species spans the west including the States of Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. If the species were to be listed under the ESA the adverse economic impacts would be widespread. aa3554fd-f076-4b11-9b35-959ab6a590bc Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:37:43 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/DC-Circuit-Upholds-EPA-Consent-Agreements-With-America-s-Farms The full ten-member U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has denied a citizens’ group request for the rehearing of a landmark environmental case, ruling that air emissions consent agreements between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and more than 10,000 animal feeding operations are not judicially reviewable and therefore able to proceed. The Court’s ruling clears the way for EPA and America’s farms to effectively resolve scientific and regulatory uncertainty, and serves as a template for resolving future industry-wide environmental challenges in the face of uncertain science. ebd02dc1-06c6-435b-bad3-d257003bd9f1 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:37:43 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Eleventh-Circuit-Holds-Justice-Kennedys-Significant-Nexus-Test-To-Be-Governing-Rule-Of-Rapanos In a decision issued yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit joined the Seventh and Ninth Circuits in holding that the "significant nexus" test from Justice Kennedy's concurring opinion in United States v. Rapanos provides the "governing rule" for determining jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. United States v. Robison, No. 05-17019 (11th Cir. Oct. 24, 2007). 6cecc4e3-0ec3-47c4-8754-7eea30db4005 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:37:43 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/The-Supreme-Court-Limits-The-Scope-Of-The-Endangered-Species-Act-In-Defenders-of-Wildlife In welcome news for the regulated community, on June 25 the Supreme Court limited the reach of the Endangered Species Act. The opinion in National Ass’n of Home Builders v. Defenders of Wildlife is available at http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/06pdf/06-340.pdf. Crowell & Moring prepared amicus briefs on the winning side for the American Farm Bureau Federation and CropLife America. bd74a240-c63d-487f-9740-fb3e2fae4398 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:37:43 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Senate-Energy-Committee-Kicks-Off-Climate-Change-Debate 8ff5be91-8d2c-46a7-b0cb-98a3364b1658 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:37:43 GMT http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/Environment-Natural-Resources-Law-Alert/Getting-Hotter