Last week, utility regulators from California, Oregon, and Washington reaffirmed a 2006 commitment to support carbon reduction and clean energy. The commissioners – Michael Picker, president of the California Public Utilities Commission, David Danner, chairman of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, and Lisa Hardie, chairwoman of the Oregon Public Utility Commission – met in […]
February 17, 2017 | Category:
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oil & gasThe U.S. Senate confirmed Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as the U.S. EPA administrator on a 52-46 vote split largely along party lines. Quoting the New York Times report: “Democrats railed all night on the Senate floor against Mr. Pruitt and urged Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, to delay the confirmation vote […]
Challengers battle Obama over BLM Oil and Gas Methane Rule The Obama administration will square off against industry and several states this month over the Bureau of Land Management’s new methane rule regulating emissions from the oil and gas operations. The U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming will hear both state and industry […]
November 4, 2016 | Category:
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trafficEnvironmental Groups Move for Summary Judgment in Suit Against Federal Highway Administration Environmental groups recently filed for summary judgment, alleging that the Federal Highway Administration (“FHWA”) failed to consider community impacts or less harmful alternatives prior to approving a $1.7 billion highway project, the Mid County Parkway (“MCP”), in Riverside County. The Center for Biological […]
October 24, 2016 | Category:
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oil and gasEnvironmental Groups Seek to Intervene in Mineral Lease Sale Lawsuit This week in New Mexico, nine environmental groups asked a federal judge for permission to intervene in a law suit between Western Energy Alliance (“WEA”), an oil and gas industry group, and the Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”). WEA challenges the agency, arguing that BLM […]
October 14, 2016 | Category:
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traffic studyEnvironmental groups voice opposition to proposed Warriors arena citing inadequate analysis of traffic, air quality, and noise impacts. On October 3, 2016, the Center for Biological Diversity, Coalition for Clean Air, Communities for a Better Environment, and Sunset Coalition (“Coalition”) submitted an amicus curiae brief in opposition to the arena, joining the petitioners/appellants in alleging […]
August 26, 2016 | Category:
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mitchell chadwick llpCourt of Appeal Upholds Santa Clara County’s Finding of Mine’s Legal Nonconforming Use Status In No Toxic Air, Inc. v. Santa Clara County, California’s Court of Appeal for the Sixth District upheld Santa Clara County’s finding that a mine in operation since 1903 was properly deemed a legal, nonconforming use. Lehigh Southwest Cement Company and […]
August 25, 2016 | Category:
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oil and gasCalifornia Assembly Approves Measure to Extend GHG Emissions Reduction Goals On Tuesday, the California Assembly passed Senate Bill 32 (SB 32), which would strengthen and extend California’s goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, it would require a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gases from 1990 levels by 2030, a codification of Governor Brown’s emission […]
August 10, 2016 | Category:
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mitchell chadwick llpNEPA Greenhouse Gas Guidance Released by CEQ This week, the White House Council on Environmental Quality released final guidance for Federal agencies intended to clarify when and how they conduct GHG analyses as part of National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) reviews. GHG guidance was first drafted in 2010, and revised in 2014. Previous draft versions […]
June 22, 2016 | Category:
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mitchell chadwick llp Wyoming Judge To BLM: Hands Off Oil and Gas Development A federal judge in Wyoming struck down the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s fracking rule for federal and Indian lands, finding that BLM lacked congressional authority to issue the regulations. The Obama fracking rule added a permit requirement for hydraulic fracturing on BLM lands, […]
