ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
Drought in California: South Fork Disconnected from Eel River—State’s Reservoirs Are Currently Holding Significantly Less Water3
LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS
Climate Change Bill Passes California Legislature—The Sea Level Rise Mitigation and Adaptation Act of 20215
CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE
Recent Scientific Studies on Climate Change7
REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Declares First-Ever Water Shortage for the Colorado River, Mandating Reduced Deliveries to the States of Arizona, Nevada and to Mexico10
PENALTIES AND SANCTIONS
Recent Investigations, Settlements, Penalties and Sanctions12
JUDICIAL DEVELOPMENTS
Federal:
U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Eminent Domain Authority for FERC ‘Certificate’ Gas Pipeline Company Despite New Jersey’s Sovereign Immunity Challenges16
PennEast Pipeline Co., LLC v. New Jersey, ___U.S.___, 141 S.Ct. 2244 (2021).
Ninth Circuit Rejects EPA’s Approval of Ozone Plan for California’s San Joaquin Valley18
Association of Irritated Residents v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ___F.4th___, Case No. 19-71223 (9th Cir. Aug. 26, 2021).
Ninth Circuit Continues to Uphold the Significant Nexus Test for Navigable Waters Under the Clean Water Act19
Sackett v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, et al., 8 F.4th 1075 (9th Cir. 2021).
District Court Addresses the Scope of Federal Jurisdiction and Removal in Case Alleging False Marketing of Fossil Fuels and Greenhouse Gas Emis-
sions21
City of Hoboken v. Exxon Mobil Corp., ___F.Supp.4th___, Case No. 2:20-cv-14243 (D. N.J. Sept. 8, 2021).
District Court Addresses State Challenges to the Biden Administration Direction on the Use of Estimates for Greenhouse Gas Emissions—Finds Lack of Article III Standing23
Missouri, et al. v. Biden, ___F.Supp.4th___, Case No. 4:21-cv-00287 (E.D. Mo. Aug. 31, 2021).
Trump Era Modifications to the Definition of the ‘Waters of the United States’ Remanded by the District Court to the EPA for Further Clarifica-
tion25
Pascua Yaqui Tribe, et al. v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, et al., Unpub., Case No. CV-20-00266-TUC-RM (D. Az Aug. 30, 2021).
District Court Denies Clean Water Act Motions to Dismiss Indictment Counts for Insufficient Plead-ings27
United States v. Bruce Evans, and Bruce Evans, Jr., ___F.Supp.4th___, Case No. 3:19-CR-009 (M.D. Pa. Aug. 19, 2021).
