Tag: CWA

Environmental Law

A New Enviro Enforcement Roundup

While our September 2018 environmental enforcement roundup isn’t as dramatic as some of our other recent reports, it still provides valuable lessons for organizations that want to avoid becoming the next statistic. It’s also worth noting that a provider of environmental services (which you’d think would know compliance backwards and forwards) made this month’s list, […]

EPA Offices, Washington DC

EPA Puts a Greater Focus on Compliance Assistance

A new memo from Susan Bodine, the EPA’s assistant administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA), suggests that the Agency will continue to revamp its enforcement activities by placing a stronger emphasis on compliance assistance.

The Latest Enviro Enforcement—From RMP to SPCC

Sorry, no million-dollar fines or penalties in our latest environmental enforcement roundup … but there are still some six-figure ones! These four recent cases cover compliance slip-ups ranging from risk management violations to spill prevention mishaps, and one company faces a half-million dollar fine.

Balancing environmental enforcement and business

The Million-Dollar Environmental Penalties Just Keep Coming!

In our first environmental enforcement report for August 2018, there were two fines of over $1,000,000. In our second roundup for the month, there’s another one! Of course, there was also a fine for a mere $350, so it’s a wide range. Take a look at six recent cases and the penalties that were doled […]

Reasons for WOTUS Repeal Explained in Supplemental Proposal

In a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Supplemental Proposal), the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) note that their July 27, 2017, notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to repeal the Obama administration’s 2015 Clean Water Rule defining the Clean Water Act (CWA) term Waters of the United States (WOTUS) prompted 685,000 public comments both […]

In Groundwater Debate, Stakeholders Take Sides

In February 2018, the EPA requested public comment on whether the Agency should continue to abide by its “previous statements” regarding whether point source pollutant discharges to groundwater are subject to regulation under the Clean Water Act (CWA) if the groundwater has a hydrologic connection to Waters of the United States (WOTUS) or waters that […]

Tanks

EPA Proposal Suggests No Action on Hazardous Substances Discharges

In response to a settlement with environmental groups and a court order, the EPA has taken the first step to fulfill its obligation under Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 311(j)(1)(C) to issue regulations regarding discharges of hazardous substances from non-transportation-related onshore facilities. Specifically, the EPA is proposing to take no action, that is, promulgate no […]

Drinking Water Action Plan Starts with Infrastructure

The United States system of providing clean drinking water to all Americans, long viewed as one of the nation’s (and the world’s) premier environmental achievements, has been springing significant leaks over more than a decade. In its new Drinking Water Action Plan, which the EPA describes as a “national call to action,” the Agency sums […]

States Argue Jurisdiction in WOTUS Case

Industry and many states are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to decide a critical jurisdictional matter related to the Clean Water Rule ((CWR), June 29, 2015, Federal Register (FR) promulgated by the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). More commonly called the waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, the action provided […]