ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
EPA and NOAA Reject Oregon’s Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Program Due to Inadequate Protection of Water Quality from Forestry Impacts87
California Department of Conservation Releases Draft Environmental Impact Report for Fracking90
PENALTIES AND SANCTIONS
Recent Investigations, Settlements, Penalties and Sanctions92
RECENT FEDERAL DECISIONS
Circuit Court of Appeals:
Eleventh Circuit Denies Appellant a Research Tax Credit for Work Performed in Landfill Contracts as Appellant’s Work Was Funded96
Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. v. U.S., ___F.3d___, Case No. 14-11107 (11th Cir. Jan. 29, 2015).
Sixth Circuit Finds Statute of Limitations Period for CERCLA Contribution Claims Begins on the Effective Date of an Administrative Settlement99
LWD PRP Group v. Alcan Corp., et al., ___F.3d___, Case No. 14-5730 (6th Cir. Jan. 14, 2015).
Sixth Circuit Finds Coal Mine Complying With Clean Water Act General Permit Is Shielded from Liability for Pollutant Discharges Not Explicitly Addressed in the Permit101
Sierra Club v. ICG Hazard, LLC, ___F.3d___, Case No. 13-5086 (6th Cir. Jan. 27, 2015).
Fifth Circuit Holds Lack of Intent to Dispose Is Dispositive in Rejection of CERCLA ‘Arranger’ Liability in Soil and Groundwater Contamination
Case103
Vine Street LLC v. Borg Warner Corp., ___F.3d___, Case No. 07-40440 (5th Cir. Jan. 16, 2015).
Seventh Circuit Upholds Decision to Apply Michigan’s Interpretation of Insurance Policy Standard Pollution Exclusion Clauses105
Visteon Corporation v. National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, P.A., ___F.3d___, Case No. 1:11-cv-002000-RLY-TAB (7th Cir. Jan. 23, 2015).
District Court:
District Court Finds Environmental Groups Lacked Standing to Challenge Federal Loan Guarantee Supporting Coal Exports107
Chesapeake Climate Action Network, et al., v. Export-Import Bank of the United States, et al., ___F.Supp.3d___, Case No. 1:13-cv-01820 (D. D.C. Jan. 22, 2015).
District Court Denies Summary Judgment Based on Successor’s Potential Knowledge of CERCLA Liabilities109
Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles v. PCC Technical Industries, ___F.Supp.3d___, Case No. CV 11-01626 FMO (C.D. Cal. Dec. 15, 2014).
District Court Finds Potential CERCLA Liability for Discharge of Aerial Emissions in Canada Resulting in Pollutants Contaminating U.S. Water
Bodies111
Pakootas v. Teck Cominco Metals, Ltd., ___F.Supp.3d___, Case No. CV-04-256-LRS (E.D. Wash. Dec. 31, 2014).
RECENT STATE DECISIONS
New Jersey Supreme Court Finds No Statute of Limitations for Contribution Claims under the New Jersey Spill Act114
Morristown Associates v. Grant Oil Company, Case Nos. A-38-13 (073248) (N.J. Jan. 26, 2015).
