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Eastern Water Law & Policy Reporter

March 2014

Volume 9, Number 3 March 2014

EASTERN WATER NEWS

Water Supply Woes Becoming Intense throughout the Nation—Georgia Files Response to Florida’s Motion to Sue for Equitable Apportionment of

Water59

How Will the Bureau of Reclamation Respond to California’s Drought? . 61

News from the West63

PENALTIES AND SANCTIONS

Recent Investigations, Settlements, Penalties and Sanctions65

RECENT FEDERAL DECISIONS

Federal:

Seventh Circuit Rejects Class Certification in Benzene Contaminated Groundwater Suit67

Parko v. Shell Oil, et al., ___F.3d___, Case Nos. 13-8023 and 13-8024 (7th Cir. Jan. 17, 2014).

District Court Concludes that NEPA Analysis Is Not Required for Small, ‘Independent’ Portion of Larger Highway Project68

Black Warrior Riverkeeper, Inc. v. Alabama Department of Transportation, ___F.Supp.2d___, Case No. 2:11-CV-267-WKW (M.D. Ala. Jan. 17, 2014).

District Court Allows EPA to Alter a Binding Consent Decree which Addressed Florida Water Pollution Standards70

Florida Wildlife Federation v. McCarthy, et al., ___F.Supp.2d___, Case No. 4:08cv324 (N.D. Fla. Jan. 7, 2014).

District Court Holds that Defendant’s CERCLA Section 107(a) Claim Cannot Be Construed as a Contribution Claim72

Ford Motor Company v. Michigan Consolidated Gas Company, ___F.Supp.2d___, Case No. 08-13503 (E.D. Mich. Jan. 23, 2014).

District Court Rejects Mining Defendants’ Clean Water Act Permit Shield Defense in the Face of Allegations of Watershed Runoff Contamination74

Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition v. Elk Run Coal Company, ___F.Supp.2d___, Case No. 3:12-0758 (S.D. W.V. Jan. 3, 2014).

District Court Finds Government’s CERCLA Claim Is in Personam in Nature and Excepted from the Automatic Stay Provision of the Bankruptcy

Code76

U.S. v. Alsol Corporation, ___F.Supp.2d___, Case No. 13-0380 (D. N.J. Jan. 2, 2014).

State:

Indiana State Court Finds Total Pollution Exclusion Clause Relives Insurer of the Duty to Defend and Indemnify Manufacturer in Perchlorate Contamination Litigation78

Chubb Custom Insurance Company, et al. v. Standard Fusee Corporation, Case No. 49A02-1301-PL-91 (Ind.App., Jan. 23, 2014).