In efforts to conserve endangered and threatened species, Richard Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act of 1973 into law.  The Act establishes various programs to aid threatened species of fish, wildlife, and plants in the United States.  Subsequently, the Act has saved over two hundred species from extinction, including “the peregrine falcon, the humpback whale, the Tennessee purple coneflower and the Florida manatee.”  Under the Act, authority is given to […]

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On May 20, 2019,Nature Sustainability published a study detailing a seemingly counterintuitive climate solution, seeking atmospheric restoration by converting one greenhouse gas into another. Global warming has been commonly attributed to the increasing levels of carbon dioxide; however, studies suggest “methane is 84 times more potent in terms of warming the climate system over the first 20 years after its release.” Rob Johnson, the lead author of this Stanford-led paper, claims […]

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While attending the ABA SEER 27th Fall Conference in Boston, Bick Law LLP learned directly from Matt Leopold, EPA General Counsel, that the final “Part 1” Waters of the U.S. rule was released yesterday, September 12.  Part 1 is the first of two phases of the WOTUS rulemaking that officially repeals the 2015 WOTUS rule enacted by the Obama Administration.  The preamble addresses the scope of agency authority under the […]

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In March 2019, a group of senators introduced legislation to classify all Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) as “hazardous substances” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). If this bill is approved, cleanups pertaining to PFAS chemicals will be “eligible for CERCLA cleanup funds and cost recovery actions.” This motion depicts the continuing efforts to increase PFAS regulation nationwide. In November 2017, the California Office of Environmental […]

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