Environmental, Energy and Climate Change Law & Regulation Reporter
April 2019
Volume 11, Number 11
April 2019
CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS
The California Offshore Wind Industry Report315
California WaterFix Update: Governor Newsom Calls for Single-Tunnel Project While Legislative Proposal Seeks to Increase Oversight317
Rivers and Dams—Los Angeles County Supervisors Urge Federal Government to Consider Handing Over Ownership and Opening Federal Funding Floodgate318
LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS
Federal ‘Green New Deal’ Legislation Introduced in the House of Representatives320
California Lawmakers Propose Several Sweeping Environmental Measures this Year on Single-Use Plastic, Wastewater Reuse, and More321
Early Climate Change-Related Bills Introduced in California’s 2019-2020 Legislative Session323
CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE
Recent Scientific Studies on Climate Change326
PENALTIES AND SANCTIONS
Recent Investigations, Settlements, Penalties, and Sanctions328
JUDICIAL DEVELOPMENTS
Federal:
The Trump Administration Border Wall—Ninth Circuit Determines Illegal Immigration Act Allows for Waiver of Environmental Laws.330
Center for Biological Diversity et al. v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security et al., ___F.3d___, Case Nos. 158-55474; 18-55475; and 18-55476 (9th Cir. Feb 11, 2019).
District Court Holds that Federal Statutes Preempt Local Land Use Zoning Ordinance for Natural Gas Pipeline Project332
Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC v. Town of Weymouth, ___F.Supp.3d___, Case No. CV 18-10871-DJC (D. Mass. Feb. 11, 2019).
District Court Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Federal Rollback of Climate Change Regulations333
Clean Air Council, et al., v. United States, et al., Case No. 17-497, Dismissed Feb. 19 2019 (E.D. Penn).
District Court Grants Summary Judgment to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Response to Texas’
Efforts to Delist Warbler from the ESA335
General Land Office of Texas v. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, ___F.Supp.3d___, Case No. 1:17-cv-00538-SS (W.D. Tex. Feb. 6, 2019).
District Court Rejects Motion to Restrain Enforcement of Illinois Attorney General’s ‘Seal Order’ Regarding Discharges of Ethylene Oxide337
Sterigenics U.S., L.L.C. v. Kim, ___F.Supp.3d___, Case No. 19-cv-01219 (N.D. Ill. Feb. 20, 2019).
District Court Finds BLM’s Failure to Quantify Greenhouse Gas Emissions Prior to Authorization of Oil and Gas Leases Violated NEPA339
WildEarth Guardians, et al. v. Zinke, et al., ___F.Supp.3d___, Case No. 16-1724 (D. D.C. Mar 19, 2019).