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EPA Announces Federal Enforcement Priorities for 2024–2027
In August, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) announced its National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives for 2024–2027, including three new priorities. Every four years, EPA selects enforcement and compliance priorities. EPA works hand in hand with state agencies in prioritizing resources to address what EPA considers to be the most serious environmental issues facing the United…
Read MoreBart Turner to Present at the Alabama Governor’s Safety and Health Conference
Bart Turner will present a session at the sold-out Alabama Governor’s Safety and Health Conference on August 29, 2023. His session titled “When Two Worlds Collide,” will guide attendees through the intersection of OSHA and EPA inspections, including subsequent enforcement. For more information on the conference, please follow this link.
Read MoreSackett v. EPA: The End of Significant Nexus
The Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, No. 21–454, 598 U.S. ___ (2023) (“Sackett”) may create some immediate opportunities for landowners and operators, likely leaves certain obligations unchanged, but certainly reverses course on seventeen years of defining the scope of federal control over water. Immediate Considerations for Landowners The most immediate opportunities…
Read MoreNew New WOTUS: I’ll see your Rapanos and Raise You Some “Additional” Waters
On December 30, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of the Army (the Agencies) announced the final “Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the United States’” rule which will be effective 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register (see here). The rule is highly consistent with the proposed rule…
Read MoreJohn Allen & Shelly Ellerhorst receive commendation from EPD Director Rick Dunn for pivotal roles in historic Lake Lanier Water Service Provider agreement.
Please click here to read the Governor’s office press release titled, “Gov. Kemp, Former Gov. Deal, & EPD Director Dunn Announce Historic Lake Lanier Water Agreement.”
Read MoreThe EPA’s New Drinking Water Advisory Warns against Lower Levels of PFAS, and May Have Important Future Implications for PFAS Regulation
On June 15th, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) updated its drinking water lifetime Health Advisory Levels to include substantially lower levels of PFOA, PFOS, PFBS, and GenX chemicals. The updated health advisory levels include: PFOA at 0.004 parts per trillion (ppt), PFOS at 0.02 ppt, PFBS at 2,000 ppt, and GenX Chemicals at…
Read MoreHighlights of New Environmental Justice Enforcement Strategies and Policies
In January of 2021, shortly after his inauguration, President Biden issued Executive Order 13985, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, emphasizing Environmental Justice or “EJ,” and requesting “comprehensive attention” to EJ issues by various federal agencies. In response to this Executive Order, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and the U.S. Department of Justice…
Read MoreLRRP Rule Guidance Change Client Alert
Client Alert: EPA’s Renewed Enforcement Focus on Lead-Based Paint Within a week of taking office, President Biden established environmental justice as a priority for his administration.[1] This momentum has continued with the Biden administration consistently pushing environmental justice at the center of the federal government’s work. Part of the Biden administration’s environmental justice goal…
Read MoreSEC Proposes Major Climate Disclosure Rule
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed a sweeping new climate-driven financial risk reporting rule titled “The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors.” The SEC unveiled the 510-page proposal on March 21, 2022. Comments are due thirty (30) days after the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register, or May 20,…
Read MoreHere We Grow Again!
KMCL is pleased to announce the addition of more top talent to our ranks—our newest member, Kate Hopkins, joined the firm as a Senior Associate in our Atlanta office last month. Kate comes to us from a major law firm where she focused her practice on environmental litigation and environmental issues in property transactions. She…
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