An assessment by a scientific body set up by the eight Arctic rim countries has projected that global mercury emissions could grow by 25% by 2020 if no action is taken to control such emissions, posing a threat to polar bears, whales, and seals and the... Read More

Traditionally, when one considers exposure to methylmercury, adverse impacts upon the brain and kidneys are foremost in any risk assessment. See, for example, http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=113&tid=24 . Given the state of the evidence... Read More

By William J. Walsh, Of Counsel , Pepper Hamilton LLP The late Ed Koch (former mayor of New York) famously used to ask his constituents "How am I doing?" Answering this question is also prudent (if not required) in evaluating environmental... Read More

It has always amazed me the extent to which individuals are not satisfied with their physical appearance; this dissatisfaction is the foundation of much cosmetic surgery. However, it also has dangerous implications. After decades of warnings, individuals... Read More

By Jessica J.O. King The Clean Air Act requires EPA to regulate emissions of hazardous air pollutants from coal-fired power plants if the agency determines that such “regulation is appropriate and necessary” after studying the hazards... Read More

On June 29, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Michigan v. EPA, [subscribers can access an enhanced version of this opinion: lexis.com | Lexis Advance ], that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) failed to properly consider compliance costs... Read More

As noted in prior posts, EPA has proposed national standards for mercury and other toxic pollutant emissions from power plants. See http://www.epa.gov/airquality/powerplanttoxics/ . Now Guam and 25 states have filed a challenge to the regulations. The... Read More

On June 29, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed, [subscribers can access an enhanced version of this opinion: lexis.com | Lexis Advance ], the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, [subscribers can access an enhanced version of this opinion: lexis... Read More

By Tricia Caliguire The Supreme Court’s decision in Michigan v. EPA , [subscribers can access an enhanced version of this opinion: lexis.com | Lexis Advance ], holding that the Environmental Protection Agency should have considered costs when... Read More

By Allison Torrence, Associate, Jenner & Block The United States Department of Energy ("DOE") has issued a report titled "Resource Adequacy Implications of Forthcoming EPA Air Quality Regulations." The DOE report evaluates... Read More

Historic 'mercury and air toxics standards' meet 20-year old requirement to cut dangerous smokestack emissions WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, the first national... Read More

By J. Wylie Donald The Energy Information Agency predicted the retirement of up to 60 gigawatts of coal-fired electricity generation by 2020. A significant contributor to that evolution was the Mercury and Air Toxics Standard or MATS Rule. Until... Read More

On June 28, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court filed its 5-4 ruling on the challenge to US EPA Mercury Air Toxics (MATS) rule. Michigan, et al. v. Environmental Protection Agency, et al., No. 14-46 . http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/14-46_10n2.pdf... Read More

By William J. Walsh, Of Counsel, Pepper Hamilton LLP A number of companies (Adidas Group, C&A, G-Star, H&M, Li Ning, Nike Inc., and Puma) have pledged to eliminate hazardous chemical discharges from their factories by 2020. Specifically, they... Read More

By Dustin Till, Associate, Marten Law Group PLLC “A new rule proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would regulate emissions from coal-fired power plants in Eastern and Midwestern states. Known as the Transport Rule, EPA's... Read More