On April 19, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it was designating two common per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response,...more
4/22/2024
/ CERCLA ,
Contamination ,
Discharge of Pollutants ,
Drinking Water ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Hazardous Substances ,
PFAS ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Toxic Chemicals
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has proposed sweeping and substantive changes to its Chapter 2 rules, which govern permit applications, appeals, permit modifications and suspensions, and other...more
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today published in the Federal Register its final rule establishing reporting and recordkeeping requirements for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Toxic Substances...more
EPA has announced its first ever National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) proposal for six PFAS substances in drinking water. Importantly, EPA is proposing legally enforceable national standards, called Maximum...more
On December 30, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) announced a joint final rule for the revised definition of the “waters of the United States” (WOTUS). The new rule...more
1/10/2023
/ Clean Water Act ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Federal Jurisdiction ,
Final Rules ,
Jurisdictional Determination (JD) ,
Navigable Waters ,
Navigable Waters Protection Rule ,
Regulatory Reform ,
US Army Corps of Engineers ,
Waters of the United States ,
Wetlands
On June 15, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued four drinking water health advisories for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). It issued interim updated drinking water health advisories PFOA...more
7/19/2022
/ CERCLA ,
Contamination ,
Discharge of Pollutants ,
Distributors ,
Drinking Water ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Hazardous Substances ,
Manufacturers ,
PFAS ,
Public Health ,
Toxic Chemicals
The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) today published its final rule to amend three provisions of its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations. The amendments largely are the same as the changes...more
In a process that began under the LePage Administration, and then continued after revisions from the Mills Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finally granted a petition from the Maine Department of...more
The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) announced today that it is initiating a rulemaking to restore three important procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that will apply to...more
The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), a division of the Executive Office of the President, yesterday promulgated by publication in the Federal Register significant changes to its regulations implementing the National...more
The EPA promulgated, by publication in the Federal Register, the Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification Rule that updates and clarifies the substantive and procedural requirements for water quality certification under...more
Maine is taking several major steps in addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The Maine PFAS Task Force just issued its final report, which included a significant number of recommendations that are likely to...more
1/30/2020
/ Contaminated Properties ,
Department of Environmental Protection ,
Drinking Water ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Federal Agency Taskforce ,
Groundwater ,
Hazardous Substances ,
PFAS ,
Private Property ,
State and Local Government ,
Superfund ,
Toxic Chemicals
At the end of 2019, President Trump signed into law the “PFAS Act of 2019” (contained in the National Defense Authorization Act), triggering reporting of a significant number of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for...more
1/24/2020
/ Data Collection ,
Data Management ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
EPCRA ,
Manufacturing Facilities ,
New Legislation ,
PFAS ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Toxic Chemicals ,
Toxic Exposure ,
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) ,
Trump Administration
The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), a division of the Executive Office of the President, today published in the Federal Register a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would make significant changes to its regulations...more
1/13/2020
/ CEQ ,
Comment Period ,
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Review ,
Executive Orders ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Infrastructure ,
NEPA ,
NPRM ,
Public Comment ,
Public Hearing ,
Trump Administration
On August 8, 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a proposed rule to update regulations implementing Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA). The rule was proposed in response to President Trump’s...more
8/13/2019
/ Certifications ,
Clean Water Act ,
Comment Period ,
Deregulation ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Infrastructure ,
Native American Issues ,
Oil & Gas ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Tribal Governments ,
Trump Administration
Pierce Atwood’s Environmental and Land Use Practice Groups are pleased to provide a summary of key environmental legislation from the 129th Maine Legislature’s First Regular Session, which adjourned sine die, on June 20,...more
7/1/2019
/ Administrative Authority ,
Air Quality Standards ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Fishing Industry ,
Groundwater ,
Groundwater Management Plan ,
Legislative Agendas ,
National Emissions Standards ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Recycling ,
Rulemaking Process ,
Solid Waste ,
State and Local Government ,
Subdivision
On Friday afternoon March 22, 2019, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced in a memorandum to licensed facilities that land apply, compost, or process biosolids (i.e., wastewater treatment sludge)...more
Our late January client alert noted the numerous issues raised by the presence of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and predicted more state and federal action. This alert provides an update on recent state and...more
Recently, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been the subject of much publicity, major ongoing litigation over alleged personal injury and property damage, and statutory and regulatory action....more
Mainers interested in the question “how clean is clean?” – not to mention the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) – heavily rely on the Maine Remedial Action Guidelines (RAGs) for Sites Contaminated with...more
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently proposed extensive changes to its Visible Emissions Regulation (Chapter 101) that may impact a facility’s ability to remain in compliance....more
On Saturday, June 30, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) anticipates launching a new national system for tracking hazardous waste shipments electronically. Known as “e-Manifest,” this system is an attempt to...more
On June 27, 2018, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) posted for public comment a draft petition to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to remove most of the state from the Ozone Transport Region...more
Despite Maine’s attainment of the ozone standards, Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) control requirements keep coming. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has proposed a new regulation, Chapter 166, that...more
5/17/2018
/ Clean Air Act ,
Department of Environmental Protection ,
Environmental Policies ,
Exemptions ,
Hazardous Substances ,
Industrial Discharges ,
Industrial Products ,
Public Hearing ,
Solvents ,
Toxic Exposure ,
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
On April 25, 2018 the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) initiated a rulemaking based on a citizen petition to adopt new rules establishing emissions standards and to modify ten existing rules governing...more