Environmental, Energy and Climate Change Law & Regulation Reporter
February 2017
Volume 9, Number 9
February 2017
CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS
California Looks to Housing and Land Use Policy to Play Ever-Increasing Role in Statewide Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy243
California Proposes $2.2 Billion Cap-And-Trade Expenditure Plan for 2017-2018244
UPDATE ON THE SCIENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Recent Scientific Studies on Climate Change247
PENALTIES AND SANCTIONS
Recent Investigations, Settlements, Penalties, and Sanctions249
REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS
Secretary of the Interior Issues Order to Protect California from the Effects of Drought and Climate Change252
U.S. Department of the Interior Approves Plans for Major Renewable Energy Projects throughout the West254
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and California Department of Water Resources Release Final Environmental Documents for the California WaterFix Pro-ject255
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Releases Draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulations257
LAWSUITS FILED OR PENDING
California Sues Federal Agencies Alleging Inadequate Environmental Assessment of Offshore Fracking, Following Two Other Lawsuits260
RECENT FEDERAL DECISIONS
Court of Appeals:
D.C. Circuit Rejects Challenge to EPA’s 2010 Decision under the Renewable Fuel Standard Program/Clean Air Act262
National Biodiesel Board v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ___F.3d___, Case No. 15-1072 (D.C. Cir. Dec. 20. 2016).
District Court:
EPA Defeats Bee Keeper’s FIFRA Lawsuit in District Court Alleging a Failure to Regulate Certain Pesticide-Treated Seeds264
Anderson, et al., v. Gina McCarthy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, et al., ___F.Supp.3d___, Case No. C 16-00068 WHA (N.D. Cal. Nov. 21, 2016).
District Court Finds EPA’s Approval of Rhode Island’s Clean Water Act TMDL Did Not Constitute a Determination of Stormwater Discharges266
Conservation Law Foundation v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ___F.Supp.3d___, Case No. 15-165-ML (D. RI Dec. 13, 2016).
District Court Rejects Maine’s Challenge to EPA Disapproval of Water Quality Standards under the Clean Water Act268
State of Maine, et al., v. Gina McCarthy, et al., ___F.Supp.3d___, Case No. 1:14-cv-00264-JDL (D. Me. 2016).
