Environmental, Energy and Climate Change Law & Regulation Reporter
March 2016
Volume 8, Number 10
March 2016
CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS
California Releases Revised CEQA Updates Regarding Vehicle Miles Traveled Measurements for Evaluating Transportation Impacts271
ExxonMobil under Investigation for Securities Fraud, Concealing Climate Impacts from Investors274
Southern California Well which Leaked Natural Gas Contributing to Release of Major Amounts of Greenhouse Gas Has Been Capped—but Fallout Remains275
UPDATE ON THE SCIENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Recent Scientific Studies on Climate Change277
PENALTIES AND SANCTIONS
Recent Investigations, Settlements, Penalties, and Sanctions279
REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS
Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries Issue New Rules for Critical Habitat Designation under the Federal Endangered Species Act281
BLM Issues Proposed Rule on Methane Emissions in Oil and Gas Oper-ations284
2016 is ‘Key Year’ for California’s Groundwork on 2030 Climate Go-
als285
San Francisco Regional Air District and U.C. Berkeley Unveil ‘Consumption-Based’ Emission Inventory of Greenhouse Gases287
RECENT FEDERAL DECISIONS
The Clean Power Plan: Up in (Coal-Fired Power Plant) Smoke? U.S. Supreme Court Stays Pl-
an289
West Virginia v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Case No. 15A773 (U.S. Feb. 9, 2016).
Third Circuit Holds that Agency Action Requires Dismissal of Clean Air Act Citizen Suit for Failure to State a Claim291
Group Against Smog and Pollution, Inc. v. Shenango Inc., ___F.3d___, Case No. 15-2041 (3rd Cir. Jan. 6, 2015).
Eighth Circuit Denies Challenge to EPA Clean Air Act Final Rule that Approved Revisions to the Minnesota SIP Addressing Haze293
National Parks Conservation Association v. Gina McCarthy, ___F.3d___, Case Nos. 12-2910, 12-3481 (8th Cir. Jan. 21, 2016).
Fifth Circuit Reverses Remand of Pipeline Contamination Class Action, Holding Defendant Met Class Action Fairness Act’s Jurisdictional Threshold. .295
Robertson v. ExxonMobil, ___F.3d___, Case No. 15-30920 (5th Cir. Dec. 31, 2015).
District Court Finds No Additional ‘Modification’ Requirement for Clean Air Act Violation Resulting from Unpermitted Modifications to Power Pl-
ant296
U.S. v. Ameren Missouri, ___F.Supp.3d___, Case No. 4:11 CV 77 RWS (E.D. Mo. Jan. 21, 2016).
