The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today in Atlantic Richfield Company v. Christian that private landowners at a Superfund site near Butte, Montana, can pursue state law claims in state court seeking “restoration damages” for cleanup actions that go beyond the EPA-selected remedial action. The Court also held, however, that these landowners are potentially responsible parties (PRPs) under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and, as a consequence, must obtain EPA approval of the restoration plans before they can be implemented. Chief Justice Roberts wrote the Court’s opinion, in which five other justices joined. Justice Alito wrote a dissenting opinion declining to sign on to the majority’s conclusion “that state courts have jurisdiction [under state law] to entertain ‘challenges’ to EPA-approved CERCLA plans,” taking the position that it was unnecessary for the Court to address this question. In a separate dissent, Justice Gorsuch, joined by Justice Thomas, disagreed with the conclusion that the landowners were “PRPs” who needed EPA’s approval to conduct more robust cleanup at their properties than otherwise required by EPA.
The dispute concerns the interplay of four sections of CERCLA. Section 107 identifies the “covered person” that may have liability to perform or pay for response actions under CERCLA. Section 113(b) establishes the sole jurisdiction of the federal courts over CERCLA claims. Section 113(h) removes federal court jurisdiction over certain challenges to CERCLA remedial decisions. A number of lower courts had held in other cases that Section 113(h) prevents courts from entertaining any claim that could conflict with an EPA remedy decision. E.g., Bartlett v. Honeywell Int’l Inc., 737 Fed. Appx. 543 (2d Cir. 2018). Section 122(e)(6) prohibits a PRP from undertaking “any remedial action” without “authorization by the President” (which has been delegated in most cases to EPA) at any facility where EPA or a PRP acting under an administrative order or consent decree “has initiated a remedial investigation and feasibility study.”
The case came to the Supreme Court almost two years ago after several years of litigation in Montana state courts. The Supreme Court of Montana had ruled that the landowners could pursue their restoration damages claims under state law and that the landowners were not CERCLA PRPs and therefore would not need EPA approval of their restoration plans. The Court granted certiorari to address three issues: “1. Whether a common-law claim for restoration seeking cleanup remedies that conflict with EPA-ordered remedies is a ‘challenge’ to EPA’s cleanup jurisdictionally barred by § 113 of CERCLA. 2. Whether a landowner at a Superfund site is a ‘potentially responsible party’ that must seek EPA’s approval under CERCLA § 122(e)(6) before engaging in remedial action, even if EPA has never ordered the landowner to pay for a cleanup. 3. Whether CERCLA preempts state common law claims for restoration that seek cleanup remedies that conflict with EPA-ordered remedies.” The Court invited the Solicitor General to file a brief expressing the views of the United States; the U.S. supported ARCO’s position in the case. Amici filed briefs in support of each side.
The Justice Roberts’ majority opinion first addressed jurisdictional matters and concluded that (i) the Supreme Court has jurisdiction to review the decision of the Montana Supreme Court and (ii) the Montana courts have jurisdiction over the landowners’ state law claims for restoration damages. The Court held that CERCLA “deprives state courts of jurisdiction over claims brought under [CERCLA]. But it does not displace state court jurisdiction over claims brought under other sources of law.” Slip op. at 8-9. Because the landowners’ claims “arise under Montana law and not under [CERCLA] … the Montana courts retain jurisdiction over this lawsuit, notwithstanding the channeling of Superfund claims to federal courts in §113(b).” Id. at 9-10. Addressing the express terms of Section 113(h) and the interplay of Sections 113(b) and 113(h), the opinion explains in some detail why the arguments of ARCO and the U.S. opposing state court jurisdiction fail. “Sections 113(b) and 113(h) thus each do work independent of one another. The two provisions overlap in a particular type of case: challenges to cleanup plans in federal court that arise under the Act.” Id. at 13. Because the landowners’ claims were not brought in federal court and arose under state law, they were not preempted by Section 113(h).
While finding that the Montana Supreme Court answered the jurisdictional question correctly, the Court held that the Montana court “erred by holding that the landowners were not potentially responsible parties under [CERCLA] and therefore did not need EPA approval to take remedial action.” Id. To reach that conclusion, Justice Roberts’ opinion focuses on the status of the landowners as the “owners” of a “facility,” irrespective of their actual liability for the payment of response costs to address contamination on their land. The opinion notes that the owners of property can be PRPs even if they have never received notice of PRP status, never been named as parties in any administrative or judicial action under CERCLA, and ultimately are not subject to liability, whether due to the running of the relevant statute of limitations or because they qualify for one of the defenses to liability contained in CERCLA. Id. at 14-15. Based on the conclusion that the landowners are PRPs under the statute, the Court held that they are subject to Section 122(e)(6) and cannot undertake restoration work without EPA authorization: “Landowners at Superfund sites containing hazardous waste must seek EPA approval before initiating their own bespoke cleanups.” Id. at 15 n.7.
The Court’s decision addresses a number of interesting questions about federal court jurisdiction in general that are beyond the scope of this post. The decision also is notable as yet another exercise by the Court of trying, without great success, to make sense of the many vague and often seemingly contradictory provisions of CERCLA. In his separate opinion, Justice Alito likened Section 113 to “a puzzle with pieces that are exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to fit together.” Opinion of Alito, J. at 3. It is notable that on a question as fundamental as who is and who is not a “PRP” under the statute, the Court could not come to a consensus regarding the solution to the statutory puzzle.
As a matter of CERCLA practice, the effect of the Court’s ruling may not be terribly far-reaching. First, the decision likely comes into play only where state law allows for “restoration” as a form of damages to property resulting from trespass or nuisance or some other circumstance actionable under state law. In Montana, for example, “restoration” is only available for damages to a property that serves as a private residence and for which the owner demonstrates “personal reasons” for restoring the property. Such circumstances are not typical of most Superfund sites. Second, following this decision, any restoration to which a property owner may be entitled under state law must have EPA’s sign off. In many cases, the same reasons on which EPA relied to specify the remedial actions for the site under CERCLA often also may lead EPA to disapprove a landowners’ request to conduct more robust cleanup. Indeed, EPA previously expressed its objections to the restoration plans at issue in the ARCO case, leaving significant doubt whether the landowners in this case will ultimately realize the potential benefit of the Supreme Court’s decision.
- Partner
As a former US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) attorney, Sam utilizes his agency, regulatory, enforcement, and practical experience to help his clients navigate environmental, energy, natural resource, sustainability ...
- Senior Counsel
Through his nearly 30 years working with clients to protect their interests and mitigate their exposure to risk, Dan used his practical knowledge to advance development, manufacturing, transactional and remediation projects ...
- Partner
Head of Hunton Andrews Kurth’s administrative law team, Eric is respected for his business-minded approach to environmental compliance and risk management. Eric has 30 years of experience advising clients on compliance ...
Search
Recent Posts
- Recent EPA Regulatory Agenda Shows Continued Focus on Increasing Restrictions on Chemicals and PFAS (Including Products Containing Them) That Will Impact US Supply Chain
- Client Alert: BLM Issues New Tribal Notification Policy for Notice-Level Operations
- EPA Proposes to Delay Start of Reporting Period and Submission Deadline for Expansive PFAS Reporting Rule Under the Toxic Substances Control Act
Categories
- Agreements
- Air
- Batteries
- California
- Carbon
- Carbon Markets
- CERCLA
- Chemicals
- Climate
- Coal
- Duty to Defend
- Election
- Endangered Species
- Energy Transition
- Enforcement
- Environmental
- Environmental Justice
- Environmental Law
- EPA
- ESG
- General
- General Liability
- Manufacturing
- Mining
- Natural Resources
- Oil & Gas
- PFAS
- Policy
- Renewables
- Trade Agreements
- Utilities
- Waste
- Water
Tags
- 2015 Standards
- 2018 Farm Bill
- 2020
- 2020 Presidential Election
- 2022 Scoping Plan for Achieving Carbon Neutrality
- 316(b)
- 3D Printer
- 3D Printing
- 4(d) Rule
- 404
- 404 permits
- 404(g)
- 45Q
- AB 1200
- AB 2503
- AB 617
- Abeyance
- ABS
- ACE
- Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Sytrene
- active guidance
- ADAO
- Adaptation
- adjacent
- Administration
- Administrative Agencies
- Administrative Law
- Administrative Procedure Act
- Administrator Pruitt
- Adverse Modification
- Advertizing
- Advisory Opinions
- Affordable Clean Energy
- Aftermarket Parts
- Agency
- Agency Budget
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
- Agency Guidance
- Agency Interpretation
- Agent
- Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018
- Air
- Air Emissions
- Air Permit
- Air Pollution
- Air Quality
- Air Quality Implementation Plan
- Air Quality Management District
- Air Quality Management Plan
- ALARP
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
- Algae
- Allco Finance Unlimited v. Klee
- Allegheny
- Alternative Energy Portfolio
- Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard
- Ambient Air
- Amendments
- America's Water Infrastructure Act
- American Bar Association
- American Jobs Plan
- AMLO
- Anadarko Petroleum
- Andrés Manuel López Obrador
- Annie Kuster
- Anthony Kennedy
- Anti-Backsliding
- Anti-terrorism
- Antibacterial
- Antitrust
- AOC
- APA
- Appropriations
- APS
- AQMP
- Aquaculture
- Arbitration
- Arctice Grayling
- Army Corps of Engineers
- ARPA-E
- Articles
- Artificial Island transmission project
- Asbestos
- Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization
- Assumption
- Atlantic Coast Natural Gas Pipeline
- Audubon Society
- Auer
- Auer Deference
- Auxiliary Emissions Control Devices
- BAAQMD
- Backstop Siting
- BACT
- Bag Ban
- Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act
- Bankruptcy
- BART
- Baseload
- Batteries
- battery storage
- Bay Area Air Quality Management District
- Beauty products
- Beneficial Use
- Beneficial Use and Reuse
- Bernie Sanders
- Best Available Control Technologies
- Beto O'Rourke
- BGEPA
- Biden Administration
- Bilateral Investment Treaty
- Biological Opinion
- Bipartisan Budget Act
- BIT
- Black-Capped Vireo
- BLM
- Blue Ribbon Task Force
- BOEM
- BOP
- Boston
- Boundary
- Brand Memo
- Brent Spar
- Brett Kavanaugh
- Brownfields
- BSEE
- Budget Proposal
- Bureau of Land Management
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
- CAA
- CAISO
- Cal-OSHA
- CalEPA
- California
- California Air Resources Board
- California Coastal Act
- California Consumer Protection Act of 2018
- California Department of Public Health
- California Department of Toxic Substances
- California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA)
- California Environmental Public Health and Workers Defense Act of 2019
- California Environmental Quality Act
- California Legislature
- California Mining
- California Ocean Protection Council
- California OEHHA
- California Proposition 13
- California Proposition 65
- California Regional Water Quality Control Boards
- California State Lands Commission
- California State Water Resources Control Board
- California Superior Courts
- California Title 8
- California Water Code section 13304
- California's Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act
- California-China Clean Technology Partnership
- Cannabis
- Cap In Place
- Cap-and-Trade
- Capital Asset Pricing Model
- CAPP
- CARB
- Carbon Capture
- Carbon Capture and Sequestration
- Carbon Capture Demonstration Projects Program
- Carbon Capture Large-Scale Pilot Projects
- Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage
- Carbon Credits
- Carbon Dioxide
- carbon dioxide removal
- Carbon Intensity
- Carbon Markets
- Carbon Nanotubes
- Carbon Utilization
- CASAC
- Categorical Exclusion
- CBD
- CBI
- CCPA
- CCPS
- CCR
- CCR Rule
- CCS
- CCS Alliance
- CCUS
- CDP
- CDR
- CECP
- CEJST
- Center for Chemical Process Safety
- Centralized Waste Treatment
- CEQ
- CEQA
- CERCLA
- Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity
- Certification
- Certified Unified Program Agencies
- CESER
- CFATS
- CFCs
- CFE
- CGL
- Chambers USA
- Chapter 91
- Chemical Data Reporting
- Chemical Exposure
- Chemical Risk Assessment
- Chemical Safety Board
- Chemicals
- Cheryl LaFleur
- Chevron Deference
- Cheyenne River Sioux
- Chloroflourocarbons
- Chlorpyrifos
- Chrysotile Asbestos
- CIP
- Circular Economy
- CITES
- Citizen Petition
- Citizen Suit
- Civil Penalties
- Civiletti
- Claims-Made
- Class VI
- Class VI Primacy
- Class VI Underground Injection Control
- Clean Air Act
- Clean Development Mechanism
- Clean Energy
- Clean Energy Standard
- Clean Hydrogen
- Clean Peak Energy Certificates
- Clean Power Plan
- Clean Water Act
- Clean Water Act Section 401
- Clean Water Act Section 404
- Cleaning Products
- Cleanup
- Climate
- Climate Change
- Climate Disclosure
- Closure by Removal
- CNTs
- CO2
- CO2 Emissions
- Coakley Order
- Coal
- Coal Ash
- Coal Ash Basins
- Coal Combustion Residuals
- Coal Leasing Moratorium
- Coal Mine Health and Safety Act
- Coalition for Competitive Electricity v. Zibelman
- Coastal
- Coastal Zone Management Act
- Comisión Federal de Electricidad
- Commercial General Liability
- Commercial Information
- Common Law
- Community Air Protection Program
- Compliance
- Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act
- concurrent-remedies doctrine
- Confidential Business Information
- Congress
- Congressional Research Service
- Congressional Review Act
- Consent Decree
- Conservation Easement
- Considerations
- Constitutional Law
- Consultation
- Consumer Data
- Consumer Product Exposure Warnings
- Consumer Products
- Consumer Products Safety Commission
- Contaminated Sites
- Contribution Threshold
- Controlled Substances Act of 1970
- Cook Inlet
- Cookware
- Cooling Water Intake Structures
- Cooperative Federalism
- COP26
- COP28
- COP28 Agreement
- Coronavirus/COVID-19
- Corporate Governance
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Corporate Sustainability
- Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive
- Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
- Corporate Valuation
- Corps
- Cosmetics
- Cost of regulation
- Council on Environmental Quality
- County of Maui
- COVID-19
- CPCN
- CPECs
- CPP
- CPS
- CPSC
- CPUC
- CRA
- Criminal Enforcement
- Critical Electric Infrastructure Information
- critical habitat
- Critical Habitat Designation
- Critical Infrastructure
- Critical Infrastructure Protection
- Cross-State Air Pollution Rule
- CSA
- CSAG
- CSAPR
- CSB
- CSR
- CSR reports
- CSR Standards
- CSR- and ESG-related risks
- Cultural Resources
- CWA
- CWA Citizen Suit
- CWA section 401
- CWA Section 404
- Cyber Insurance
- Cyber-Related Risks
- Cybersecurity
- D&O
- D&O Insurance
- Dakota Access Pipeline
- DAPL
- DARTIC
- Data Security
- DC Circuit
- DC Circuit Court of Appeals
- DCH
- Deadline Suits
- Deadlines
- Decarbonization
- Decommissioning
- Deep-Well Injection
- Deepwater Horizon
- Defeat Devices
- Defense Costs
- Deference
- Deidre G. Duncan
- Delisting
- Democratic Debate
- DEP
- Department of Energy
- Department of Homeland Security
- Department of Justice
- Department of Labor
- Department of the Interior
- Department of Transportation
- Designations
- Development
- Device
- Diligent Prosecution
- Dioxane
- Directors & Officers
- Director’s Order
- Discharge
- Diversity and Inclusion
- DJSI
- DOD
- DOE
- DOER
- DOI
- DOJ
- DOJ ENRD
- Domestic Energy Policy
- Domestic Terrorism
- DOSH
- Dow Jones Sustainability Index
- DPR
- DPU
- Draft
- Draft EA
- Draft Environmental Assessment
- drinking water
- Drought
- DTSC
- Due Diligence
- Duke Energy
- Duty to Defend
- Dynamic Scoring
- E&P Wastes
- EA
- eagle
- Eagle Take Permit
- Earth Day
- Economic Impact
- Economic Impacts
- Effluent
- Effluent Guidelines
- Effluent Limitations
- EHSS
- EIS
- EJSCREEN
- Election 2020
- Electric Ratepayers
- Electric Transmission
- Electric Vehicles
- Electricity
- Electricity Markets
- ELG
- ELGs
- Elizabeth E. Aldridge
- Elizabeth Warren
- Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
- Emergency Response
- Emergency Support Functions
- Emerging Contaminants
- Emission Caps
- Emission Control Requirements
- Emission Reduction Credits
- Emissions
- Emissions Caps
- emissions reporting
- Emphasis List
- Endangered Species
- Endangered Species Act
- Energy
- Energy Industry
- Energy Infrastructure
- Energy Package Insurance
- Energy Reforms
- Energy Storage
- Energy Transition
- Enforcement
- Enforcement Discretion
- Enforcement statistics
- Engine Certification
- Enhanced Oil Recovery
- ENRD
- Environment
- Environment and Natural Resources Division
- Environmental
- Environmental and Social Governance
- Environmental Appeals Board
- Environmental Assessment
- Environmental Bar
- Environmental Compliance
- Environmental Crimes
- Environmental Defense Fund
- Environmental Disclosure
- Environmental Due Diligence
- Environmental Enforcement
- Environmental Groups
- Environmental Impact Statement
- Environmental Justice
- Environmental Justice and Equity Board
- Environmental Law
- Environmental Law Institute
- Environmental Markets
- Environmental Permitting
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Environmental Rights
- Environmental Social and Corporate Governance
- Environmental Social and Governance
- Environmental Social Governance
- Environmental Social Justice
- Environmental Transactions
- EO 13891
- EOR
- EP3
- EP4
- EPA
- EPA audit policy
- EPR
- EPR Laws
- Equator Principles
- Equator Principles Association
- ERC
- ESA
- ESA consultation
- ESA section 7 consultation
- ESG
- ESG Diligence
- ETP
- EU
- European Climate Law
- European Green Deal
- European Sustainability Reporting Standards
- European Union
- Evaluation of Regionalization for Potential New Wastewater Systems
- EVs
- Exceptional Events
- Exceptional Events Rule
- Excess Insurance
- Excess Liability
- Exchange Act
- Executive Compensation
- Executive Memorandum
- Executive Office for United States Attorneys
- Executive Order
- Executive Order 13777
- Executive Order 14008
- Executive Order N-8-23
- Executive Orders
- Extended producer Responsibility
- Fair and Equitable Treatment
- Fair Labor Standards Act
- FAST Act
- Fathead Minnow
- Fatmucket Mussel
- FDA
- FECM
- Federal Action
- Federal Agencies
- Federal Agency Action
- Federal Budget
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
- Federal Lands
- Federal Permit
- Federal Power Act
- Federal Preemption
- Federal Register
- Federal Rule 20
- Federal Rule 71.1
- Federalism
- Fees
- FERC
- FET
- Fiduciary Liability
- FIFRA
- Fifth Circuit
- Final Rule
- Financial Information
- Fireworks
- First Amendment
- Fishing Industry
- Flaring
- Flint
- FloaTEC LLC
- Flood Infrastructure Funding
- Flood Mitigation
- Florida
- FLSA
- FOIA
- Food
- Food and Drug Administration
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Food Loss and Waste
- Food Marketing Institute
- Food Marketing Institute v. Argus Leader Media
- Food Waste
- Food Waste Reduction Alliance
- Fossil Fuels
- Fourth Circuit
- Fourth of July
- FPA
- FPA Preemption
- FPA section 202(c)
- FPOS
- Fracking
- Framework
- Framework Rule
- Fraud
- Free Trade Agreement
- Freedom of Information Act
- Freeport
- FSLA
- FTA
- Funding for Environmental Protection
- Funding Mechanism
- FUTURE Act
- FWS
- FY2017 budget
- FY2018
- GAO
- Gas
- GDPR
- Gender Equality
- General Data Protection Regulation
- General Industrial Stormwater Permit
- General Permit
- GenX
- George Clemon Freeman Jr.
- GHG
- GHG Emissions
- GHG Emissions Renewable Portfolio Standard
- Gilbert & Sullivan
- Global Carbon Markets
- Global Climate Negotiations
- Global Reporting Initiative
- Global Warming Solutions Act
- Glyphosate
- GOM
- Good Neighbor Obligation
- Good Neighbor Provision
- Government Investigations
- Grand River Dam Authority
- Grassroots Activisim
- Green Admendment
- Green Communities Act
- Green Deal
- Green New Deal
- Green New Deal; Climate Change
- Greenhouse Gas
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Greenhouse Gas Protocol
- Greenhouse Gas Protocol Initiative
- Greenhouse Gases
- Grid
- grid reliability
- grid study
- Grocery Manufacturers Association
- Groundwater
- Guam
- Guidance
- Guidance Portal
- Gulf of Mexico
- Habitat
- Hardrock Mining Rule
- Harmful Algal Blooms
- Hawaii
- Hawkes
- Hazardous Air Pollutants
- Hazardous Materials Regulations
- Hazardous Waste
- HBCD
- HCFCs
- Health
- Health Advisories
- health advisory
- Health and Safety
- HECT
- Hemp
- HFCs
- high-density polyethylene (HDPE)
- Highly Reactive Volatile Organic Compound Emissions Cap and Trade
- Historical Matter
- HMR
- Holder
- Homeland Security
- Hoopa Valley Tribe
- House
- House of Representatives
- Houston Casualty
- Human Health Toxicity Values
- Human Rights
- Hurricane Harvey
- Hydraulic Fracturing
- Hydroelectric Relicensing
- Hydrofluorocarbons
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
- Hydrogen
- Hydrogen Energy Earthshot
- Hydrological Connection Theory
- Hydropower
- ICMM
- ICSID
- IFC Performance Standards
- IGP
- IIA
- IIJA
- Impaired Waterbodies
- Impaired Waters
- Impairment
- Incident Response
- Incidental Take
- incidental take statement
- Indian Lands
- Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge
- Indonesia
- Industrial Accidents
- Industrial Hemp
- Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response Plan
- Inflaction Reduction Act
- Infrastructure
- Infrastructure Development
- Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
- infrastructure security
- Initial & Boundary
- Innovation
- Inside Look
- Inspections
- Insurance
- Insurance Recovery
- Integrated Science Assessment
- Interagency Review
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
- Interior
- International Arbitration
- International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes
- International Council on Mining and Metals
- International Energy Agency
- International Environmental Law
- International Investment Agreements
- International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association
- Interstate Transport
- Intervention
- Investment Risk Assessment
- IPCC
- IRIS
- IRIS Review
- IRS
- ISO-NE
- ITEK
- Jay Inslee
- Jewell
- Joe Biden
- John Hickenlooper
- Joint Venture Provision
- Judicial Review
- Judiciary
- Jurisdiction
- Jurisdictional Determination
- Justice40
- Kamala Harris
- Kavanaugh
- Kenk’s amphipod
- Kevin McIntyre
- Keystone XL
- Kigali Amendment
- Kisor
- Kisor Deference
- Kyoto Protocol
- Lake Erie
- Lake Powell Pipeline Project
- Lampsilis Siliquoidea
- Land Use
- Late Notice
- Lautenberg Act
- Law360
- LCPFAC SNUR
- LDC
- LDNR
- Lead
- Lead and Copper Rule
- Lease Sale
- Legislation
- Lesser Prairie Chicken
- Li-ion
- Liability
- Liability Insured
- Linear
- Liquefied Natural Gas
- Lithium-ion batteries
- Litigation
- Lloyds
- Lloyd’s of London
- LNG
- London Protocol
- Long-Form Warning
- Look-back period
- Louisiana Department of Natural Resources
- Low Carbon Fuel Standard
- MA DOER
- Maine Department of Environmental Protection
- Maintenance Fees
- Malaysia
- Manufactured Products
- Manufacturing
- Marijuana
- Maritime
- Markets
- Masias
- Mass Emissions Cap and Trade
- Massachusetts
- Massachusetts AG
- Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
- Massachusetts Climate Act
- Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources
- Massachusetts Global Warming Solutions Act
- MassCEC
- MATS
- Maximum Contaminant Levels
- MBTA
- MBTA; Wind Energy; Renewable Energy; protected species; natural resources; USFWS
- McGraw-Edison
- McIntyre
- MCL
- MCLG
- MCLs
- McNamee
- MEA
- MECT
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Methane
- methane emissions
- Methane Repeal Rule
- Methylene Chloride
- Michigan
- microplastics
- Midnight Rule
- Midstream
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act
- Migratory Birds Treaty Act
- Millennium Pipeline
- Mineral Leasing Act
- Mining
- Mining Claims
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)
- Misbranding
- Mitigation
- Mitigation Rule
- MLP
- Modification
- Monitoring
- Monsanto
- Montana
- Montreal Protocol
- Moratorium
- MOU
- Mountain Valley Pipeline
- MSGP
- Multi-Sector General Permit
- Multiyear Plan for Energy Sector Cybersecurity
- Mulvaney
- Murray
- Murray Energy
- MVP
- NAAQS
- NAFTA
- NAIOP
- NALs
- Nancy Pelosi
- NATA
- National Ambient Air Quality Standards
- National Compliance Initiatives
- National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center
- National Defense Authorization Act
- National Determined Contributions
- National Emergency
- National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives
- National Enforcement Initiatives
- National Environmental Policy Act
- National Historic Preservation Act
- National Hydro Association
- National Marine Fisheries Service
- National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration
- National Parks and Conservation Ass’n v. Morton
- National Petroleum Council
- National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
- National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
- National Pollution Discharge Elimination System
- National Primary Drinking Water Regulation
- National Priorities List
- National Recycling Strategy
- National Register of Historic Places
- National Restaurant Association
- National Security
- Nationwide Permit
- Native American Law
- Natural Gas
- Natural Gas Act
- Natural Gas Leak Abatement Program
- Natural Gas Pipeline Certification
- Natural Gas Pipelines
- Natural Resource Damages
- Natural Resources
- Navigable waters
- NCCIC
- NCI
- NEC
- NECIs
- NEI
- Neil Chatterjee
- NELs
- NEPA
- NEPA Policy
- NEPA Review
- NERC
- NESCOE
- Net-Zero Emissions
- Net-Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- New Chemicals Review Program
- New Rule
- New Source Review
- New York
- New York Department of Environmental Conservation
- New York State Department of Taxation and Finance
- NGA
- NGO
- NHPA
- NHTSA
- NIETC
- nitrogen dioxide
- NMFS
- No Exposure Certification Identification Number
- No-Action Letter
- NOAA
- NOI
- NONA
- Nonapplicability Identification Number
- Nonattainment
- Nonpoint Source
- North American Electric Reliability Corporation
- North Dakota
- Notice
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
- NPDES
- NPDES Delegation
- NPDWR
- NPL
- NSPS
- NSR
- nuclear
- nuclear energy
- NWP
- NY PSC
- Obama
- Occupational Safety and Health Act
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- OCE
- OECA
- OEHHA
- OEJECR
- Office of Civil Enforcement
- Office of Cybersecurity Energy Security and Emergency Response
- Office of Electricity Delivery & Energy Reliability
- Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
- Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA)
- Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights
- Office of Federal Register
- Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
- Office of Management and Budget
- Office of Natural Resources
- Office of Water
- Offshore Energy
- Offshore Platforms
- Offshore Wind
- Offshore wind energy
- Ohio
- Oil
- Oil & Gas
- Oil and Gas
- Oil and Gas Production
- Oil and Gas Wastewater
- Oil Pipelines
- Oil Pollution Act
- OIRA
- Oklahoma
- OMB
- One Federal Decision
- One Federal Plan
- OPA
- OSHA
- Outer Continental Shelf
- OW
- Ozone
- Pacific OCS Region
- Packaging
- Paperwork Reduction Act
- Paris Agreement
- Paris Climate Accord
- Paris Climate Agreement
- Particulate Matter
- Partido Revolucionario Institucional
- Passaic River
- PATH Act
- PBT
- PCBs
- PEMEX
- Penalties
- Penalty
- PennEast Pipeline
- Pennsylvania
- Perfluoroalkyl
- Permian Basin
- Permitting
- Pesticide Devices
- Pesticides
- Pete Buttigieg
- Petition
- Petition for Rulemaking
- Petitions for Objection
- PetraNova
- Petrochemical Regulation
- Petróleos Mexicanos
- Petroleum Products
- PFAS
- PFAS Action Plan
- PFAS in Products State Law Tracker
- PFAS Reporting Rule
- PFAS Strategic Roadmap
- PFBA
- PFBS
- PFNA
- PFOA
- PFOS
- PHMSA
- Physicians for Social Responsibility
- Pimphales Promelas
- PIP
- Pipe Manufacturing
- Pipeline
- Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- Pipeline Attacks
- Pipeline Construction
- Pipeline Safety
- Pipelines
- PIPES
- Plastic
- Plastic Carryout bag
- PNAS
- POCSR
- Point Source
- Point Source Discharge
- Policy
- Policy Statement
- Pollution
- Pollution Exclusion
- Pollution Liability
- Pollution Prevention for Healthy People and Puget Sound Act
- Polyalkyl
- Polyfluoroalkyl
- Port of Los Angeles
- Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act
- Potentially Responsible Party
- POTW
- PRA
- Practical Law
- Precedent
- Preconstruction Authorizations
- Preemption
- Prejudice
- Preliminary Injunction
- President Biden
- President Trump
- Presidential Transition
- PRGs
- PRI
- Priebus
- Principal
- Principles for Responsible Investments
- Priority Pollutants
- Privacy
- Process Safety Management
- Produced Water
- Product Safety
- Production Cuts
- Production Sharing Contract
- Prohibition on Sale
- Project Development
- Prop. 65
- Proposition 65
- Protected Species
- Protecting Our Conserved Lands Act of 2019
- PRP
- Pruitt
- Pruitt Task Force
- PSC
- PSD
- PSH
- PSM
- Public Comment
- Public Lands
- Public Utilities
- Publicly Owned Treatment Works
- Pumped Storage Hydropower
- PURPA
- Quality Assurance Plan
- R-Project Transmission Line
- Racing Vehicles
- RAGAGEP
- Railroad Commission
- Railroad Commission of Texas
- Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC)
- Rapanos
- RBI
- RCRA
- RCRA Subtitle D
- REACH
- Reasonable Progress Plans
- RECLAIM
- Reconsideration
- RECs
- Redevelopment
- Refinery
- Reform
- Reforma Energética
- Regional Clean Air Incentives Market
- Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs
- Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)
- Regional Haze
- Regional Water Quality Control Boards
- Registration Evaluation Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals
- Regulation
- Regulation S-K
- Regulation S-X
- Regulations
- Regulatory
- Regulatory Agenda
- Regulatory Freeze
- Regulatory Guidance
- Regulatory Programs
- Regulatory Reform
- Regulatory Review
- Reliability
- Reliability Safety Valve
- Remediation
- Removal Action
- Renewable
- Renewable Energy
- Renewable Energy Certificates
- Renewable Energy Portfolio
- Renewable Fuel Standards
- Renewable Portfolio Standard
- Renewables
- Renewals
- Reporting
- Request for Information
- ReRED
- Rescind
- Resilience of the Bulk Power System
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
- Responsible Business Initiative
- Restoration
- Restriction of Hazardous Substances
- Retail
- Retailers
- Retained
- Retroactivity
- Return on Equity
- RFS
- RHA
- Richard Glick
- Rigs to Reefs
- RIN
- Ripeness
- Risk and Technology Review
- Risk Assessment
- Risk Evaluation
- Risk Management
- Risk Management Plan
- Risk Management Program
- Risk Management Regulations
- Rivers and Harbors Act
- RMP
- Roadmap Release
- Roanoke River Basin Association
- Robert Powelson
- ROE
- ROEs
- RoHS
- Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
- Roundup
- Royalties
- RPS
- RRBA
- RRC
- RTR
- Rule 14a-8(i)(7)
- Rule 65(c)
- rulemaking
- Russia
- SAB
- Sacred Sites
- SAFE
- Safe Drinking Water Act
- Safe Harbor
- Safe Harbor Regulation
- Safe Harbor Warning
- Safer Consumer Products
- SAFETY Act
- Safety Management System
- San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board
- SASB
- SaskPower’s Boundary Dam Unit 3
- SB 1371
- SCAQMD
- Science
- Science Advisory Board
- Science Advisory Board (SAB)
- Scope
- Scope 1
- Scope 2
- Scope 3
- Scott Pruitt
- SCOTUS
- SDWA
- SEC
- Section 10
- Section 104 Request
- Section 114 Request
- Section 179B(b)
- Section 208 Request
- Section 308 Request
- Section 4
- Section 401
- Section 404
- Section 408
- Section 45Q
- Section 5
- Section 6(b)
- Securities Act
- Securities and Exchange Commission
- Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
- Securities Law
- Seismicity
- Seminole Rock
- Senate
- Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Senator Lamar Alexander
- SEP
- SEPs
- Services
- Settlements
- Sewage
- Shareholder Lawsuits
- Shutdown
- Sierra Club
- Significant Figures
- Significant Guidance
- Significant New Use Rule
- SIP
- Smelter
- SNUR
- Social
- Social Media
- Solar
- Solid Waste
- South China Sea
- South Coast Air Quality Management District
- SPCC
- Species
- Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Rule
- SSB 5135
- SSM SIP Call
- Stabilization Clause
- Standing
- Standing Rock Sioux
- Stare Decisis
- State
- State Administrative Appeals
- State Air Pollution Control Board
- State Constitutions
- State Environmental Quality Review Act
- State Implementation Plan
- State Law
- State Water Resources Control Board
- States
- Statute of Limitations
- Statutory Authority
- Statutory Interpretation
- Stormwater
- Strategic
- Straw Proposal
- Subrogation
- sulfur dioxide
- Sunset Review
- Superfund
- Supplemental Environmental Projects
- Supply Chain
- Supreme Court
- Supreme Court of Texas
- Supreme Court of the United States
- Surface Mining Act
- Surface Water Discharge
- Susan Bodine
- Sustainability
- Sustainability Accounting Standards Board
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Sustainable Investing
- SWDA
- Switzerland
- SWRCB
- Tailings Storage Facility
- Take
- Take Prohibition
- Takings
- Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
- Tax
- Tax Credits
- Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
- Tax Reform
- Taxonomy Regulation
- TCEQ
- TCI
- Temporary Policy
- TERP
- Texas Alliance of Energy Producers
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
- Texas Legislature
- Texas Railroad Commission
- Texas Water Development Board
- Thailand
- THC
- The European Commission
- The Mikado
- The Treasury Department
- The Water Infrastructure Improvements Act
- the WIIN Act
- Third Circuit
- Threatened Species
- Title V
- TMDL
- TMDLs
- TNALs
- Toledo
- Tolling Order
- Total Maximum Daily Load
- Toxic Chemicals
- Toxic Substances Control Act
- Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
- Toxics
- Toxics Release Inventory
- Transcos
- Transition
- Transmission
- Transparency
- Transport
- Treasury
- Treaty Rights
- Trends
- TRI
- Tribal Rights
- Tribes
- Trump
- Trump Administration
- TSA
- TSCA
- TSF
- TWDB
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Ultimate Net Loss
- UNCLOS
- Underground Injection Wells
- Underground Storage Tank
- UNFCCC
- Unified Agenda
- United Airlines
- United Nations
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
- Urgenda
- US Army Corps of Engineers
- US Chemical Safety Board
- US Climate Alliance
- US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- US Customs and Border Protection
- US Department of Agriculture
- US Department of Justice (DOJ)
- US Environmental Protection Agency
- US Fish and Wildlife Service
- US FWS
- US SAFETY Act
- US Securities and Exchange Commission
- US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
- US Supreme Court
- USACE
- USDA
- USDOT
- USFWS
- USMCA
- Utilities
- utility
- vapor intrusion
- Vapor Recovery Units
- VCP
- venting
- Veto
- Village of Old Mill Creek. v. Star
- Vineyard Wind
- Virginia Clean Economy Act
- Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund
- Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
- Virginia State Corporation Commission
- vision of Corporation Finance
- VOCs
- Volatile Organic Compounds
- Voluntary Cleanup Program
- Voluntary Remediation
- Waiver
- Waiver Period
- Warnings
- Washington
- Waste
- Waste Discharge Identification Number
- Waste Electrical and Electric Equipment
- Waste Permitting
- Wasted Food
- Wastewater
- Wastewater Treatment
- Water
- Water Quality Certification
- Water Quality Criteria
- Water Regulation
- Water Reuse
- Water Supply and Management
- Water Systems
- Waterfront
- Waters
- Waters of the United States
- WDID
- WEA
- WEEE
- Well Blowout
- Well Control Rule
- WET Tests
- Wetlands
- Whole Effluent Testing
- Wholesale Electricity
- WildEarth Guardians
- Wildfire
- Wind
- Wind Energy
- Wind Energy Area
- wind farms
- Winning on Reducing Food Waste Initiative
- Winter v. NRDC
- Withdrawal or Reinstatement
- World Bank Group Equator Principles
- Worst-Case Discharge
- WOTUS
- WQBELs
- WQC
- Wyoming
- Zero Emissions
- Zero-Emissions Vehicle Initiative
- Zinke
Authors
- Yaniel Abreu
- Elizabeth E. Aldridge
- Walter J. Andrews
- John J. Beardsworth, Jr.
- Nancy B. Beck, PhD, DABT
- Jordan L. Bernstein
- Timothy E. Biller
- George Borovas
- Lawrence J. Bracken II
- Shannon S. Broome
- Karma B. Brown
- Samuel L. Brown
- F. William Brownell
- Courtney Cochran Butler
- Julia J. Casciotti
- Michelle G. Chan
- E. Carter Chandler Clements
- Abigail Contreras
- Benjamin Y. Cooper IV
- Christopher J. Cunio
- Alexandra B. Cunningham
- Andrea DeField
- Meredith Doswell
- Douglas L. Dua
- Deidre G. Duncan
- Frederick R. Eames
- Clare Ellis
- Latosha M. Ellis
- Susan S. Failla
- Geoffrey B. Fehling
- Andrea Field
- Hannah Flint
- Steven C. Friend
- Kevin E. Gaunt
- Andrew G. Geyer
- Erin Grisby
- Elisabeth R. Gunther
- Steven M. Haas
- Alexandra Hamilton
- Patrick Jamieson
- Kevin W. Jones
- Dan J. Jordanger
- Ryan T. Ketchum
- Sami M. Khan
- Jonathan H. Kim
- Scott H. Kimpel
- Charles H. Knauss
- Garrett Kral
- J. Pierce Lamberson
- Lucinda Minton Langworthy
- Jaclyn E. Lee
- Matthew Z. Leopold
- Charlotte Leszinske
- Brian R. Levey
- Michael S. Levine
- Elbert Lin
- Eric R. Link
- Nash E. Long
- David S. Lowman, Jr.
- Phyllis H. Marcus
- Jeffrey N. Martin
- Lorelie S. Masters
- Patrick M. McDermott
- Kerry L. McGrath
- Robert J. McNamara
- Michael J. Messonnier, Jr.
- Jennifer MikoLevine
- Todd S. Mikolop
- Angela Morrison
- Michael J. Mueller
- Eric J. Murdock
- Ted J. Murphy
- William L. Newton
- Henry V. Nickel
- Paul T. Nyffeler, PhD
- Peter K. O’Brien
- G. Michael O’Leary
- Evangeline C. Paschal
- Kate Perkins
- Shemin V. Proctor
- Shawn Patrick Regan
- Myles F. Reynolds
- Doris Rodríguez
- Brent A. Rosser
- Christian Rudloff
- Rachel Saltzman
- Arthur E. Schmalz
- Penny A. Shamblin
- Michael R. Shebelskie
- George P. Sibley, III
- Joseph C. Stanko
- Martin P. Stratte
- Javaneh S. Tarter
- Thomas W. Taylor
- Patricia Tiller
- Linda Trees
- Andrew J. Turner
- Emily Burkhardt Vicente
- Gregory R. Wall
- Thomas R. Waskom
- Malcolm C. Weiss
- Michelle-Ann C. Williams
- Susan F. Wiltsie