ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
EPA Issues Proposed Rules to Curb Methane Emissions from the Oil and Gas Industry243
California State Water Resources Control Board Approves General Waste Discharge Requirements for Composting Operations245
PENALTIES AND SANCTIONS
Recent Investigations, Settlements, Penalties and Sanctions247
RECENT FEDERAL DECISIONS
Circuit Court of Appeals:
Second Circuit Affirms Narrow Reading of Force Majeure Clause in New York Oil and Gas Leases in Connection with Fracking Moratorium254
Beardslee v. Inflection Energy, LLC, ___F.3d___, Case No. 12-4897 (2nd Cir. Aug. 19, 2015).
Ninth Circuit Finds Notice of Intent to Sue the Forest Service Alleging Violations of the Endangered Species Act Sufficient in the Face of a Motion to Dismiss256
Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center v. Rob MacWhorter, the U.S. Forest Service, ___F.3d___, Case No. 13-35453 (9th Cir. Aug. 10, 2015).
Ninth Circuit Holds No Permit Needed under the Clean Water Act for Irrigation Project Covering Parts of California and Oregon258
ONRC Action v. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, ___F.3d___, Case No. 12-35831 (9th Cir. Aug. 21, 2015).
Ninth Circuit Orders Final Response from EPA on Administrative Petition to Ban Use of Pesticide259
Pesticide Action Network North America; Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ___F.3d___, Case No. 14-72794 (9th Cir. 2015).
District Court:
District Court Finds CERCLA Does Not Preempt State-Law Nuisance Claims and Voluntarily Incurred Costs Do Not Constitute Special Injury261
Alcoa, Inc. v. APC Investment Co., ___F.Supp.3d___, Case No. CV 14-6456-GW(Ex) (C.D. Cal. Aug. 12, 2015).
District Court Upholds California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard263
American Fuels & Petrochemical Manufacturers Assoc. v. Corey, ___F.Supp.3d___, Case No. 1:09-cv-02234 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 28, 2015).
District Court Enjoins Implementation of EPA/Corps Rule Defining Waters of the United States under the Clean Water Act265
North Dakota v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ___F.Supp.3d___, Case No. 3:15-cv-00059 (D. N.D. Aug. 27, 2015).
District Court Holds Plaintiff’s Sixth Amended Petition Asserting Clean Water Act Claims Did Not Satisfy Notice Requirements of the Statute267
Peter Payne, et al v. U.S., ___F.Supp.3d___, Case No. 4:15CV246-LG-CMC (E.D. Tx. Aug. 17, 2015).
District Court Finds the Clean Water Act Applies to Pollutants Expelled from a Ventilation Fan Used on Poultry Confinement Houses268
Rose Acre Farms, Inc. v. North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, ___F.Supp.3d___, Case No. 5:14-CV-147-D (E.D. N.C. July 30, 2015).
