Posts by sprlaw
Federal Agencies Commit to Streamlining Environmental Reviews for Major Infrastructure Projects
On April 9, 2018, the heads of 12 federal agencies signed a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) that aims to streamline and shorten federal environmental and permitting reviews for major infrastructure projects. The MOU implements President Trump’s One Federal Decision (“OFD”) policy established in Executive Order 13807 (“EO 13807”), signed on August 15, 2017 and described…
Read MoreTrump White House Infrastructure Plan Includes Proposals to Streamline Permitting Processes
Last month, the White House released its “Legislative Outline for Rebuilding Infrastructure in America” (the “Infrastructure Plan” or “Plan”), which contains a wide range of proposals for facilitating the construction of infrastructure projects. In addition to financial incentives and investment programs, the Infrastructure Plan proposes a series of changes in federal permitting and environmental review…
Read MoreSecond Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Bethpage Water District Claims Against Northrop Grumman
On March 3, 2018, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal on summary judgment, as time-barred, of claims brought by the Bethpage Water District (“BWD”) against Northrop Grumman Corporation for the alleged contamination of its drinking water supply. Northrop Grumman was represented by SPR attorneys Mark A. Chertok, Elizabeth Knauer,…
Read MoreNew NYSDEC Multi-Sector General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Industrial Activity Takes Effect
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has finalized the State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Multi-Sector General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Industrial Activity (MSGP), which will take effect on March 1, 2018. Coverage under the MSGP may be obtained by applicants whose facilities conduct any of the industrial activities listed in…
Read MoreAre Indirect Discharges from Groundwater to “Waters of the United States” Regulated Under the Clean Water Act? Hawai’i Wildlife Fund v. County of Maui
In Hawai’i Wildlife Fund v. County of Maui, No. 15-17447 (9th Cir. Feb. 1, 2018), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court ruling that the County’s injection wells are “point sources” from which the County discharged pollutants in the form of treated effluent into groundwater, through which the pollutants…
Read MoreWOTUS Rule Litigation Abounds — New York State and Others Sue EPA and Army Corps over Delayed Implementation of Obama-Era WOTUS Rule
On February 6, 2018, New York State filed suit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (together, “the agencies”) for the suspension of a 2015 regulation seeking to clarify the definition of “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act (“CWA”), dubbed the “Clean Water Rule”…
Read More