Environmental, Energy and Climate Change Law & Regulation Reporter

CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS

In Response to President Obama’s March Executive Order U.S. Government to Cut Its Own Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Forty Percent3

United States Government Takes a Step Toward Global Agreement by Pledging to the United Nations to Tackle Climate Change4

California Announces Feasibility Study Showing the State Can Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Thirty-Eight Percent by 20306

Reduction of Hydropower Electricity Generation Caused by California’s Drought Has Led to Millions of Tons of Additional Greenhouse Gas

Emissions7

Report finds an Uptick in Renewables Investing—Investors around the World Double Down on Renewable Energy8

CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE

Recent Scientific Studies on Climate Change10

REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS

EPA Enters into Consent Decree With the Sierra Club Which Will Lead to the Resolution of 24 State Clean Air Act Implementation Plans13

Federal Emergency Management Agency Mandates State Grant Recipients to Plan for Climate Change Impacts14

California High Speed Rail Authority Issues Project Update Report to the State Legislature16

PENALTIES AND SANCTIONS

Recent Investigations, Settlements, Penalties, and Sanctions.18

JUDICIAL DEVELOPMENTS

Federal:

Eleventh Circuit Directs Army Corps of Engineers to Reevaluate Clean Water Act General Permit for Coal Mining Operations20

Black Warrior Riverkeeper v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ___F.3d___, Case No. 14-12357 (11th Cir. Mar. 23, 2015).

Fourth Circuit Split Panel Affirms Summary Judgment in CERCLA Arranger Case22

Consolidation Coal Co. v. Georgia Power Co., ___F.3d___, Case No. 13-1603 (4th Cir. Mar. 20, 2015).

Ninth Circuit Allows EPA to Approve Alternative Pollution Controls under the Clean Air Act Despite Subsequently Strengthened Standards23

National Resources Defense Council, et al. v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, et al., ___F.3d___, Case No. 13-70544 (9th Cir. Mar. 11, 2015).