In January 2024, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) released the Virginia Stormwater Management Handbook, Version 1.0 (Handbook). The Handbook provides guidance to implement construction stormwater...more
Virginia developers take note: changes to the Virginia stormwater construction permitting program have been made over the last few years, and more changes are expected in upcoming months. While navigating those changes,...more
In The Graduate, Mr. McGuire pulls aside Benjamin Braddock, played by Dustin Hoffman, and utters “one word” of career advice – “plastics.” Benjamin’s diffident reaction reflects his wealthy suburban character’s utter lack of...more
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) recently released a “Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution.” Depending on its ultimate composition, the final strategy could materially affect the...more
House Bill (“HB”) 1706 and 1707 have been introduced which address issues associated with liquid waste management systems permitting and nutrient management plans. Both bills are sponsored by Representative Vaught and...more
Virginia’s construction stormwater discharge permit program appears to be undergoing major transformation over the next six to nine months, and reception to these changes from stakeholders is likely to vary given the...more
In a study published last week, researchers at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand identified microplastics in freshly fallen snow samples collected from 19 different sites across the Ross Island region of Antarctica....more
Companies should consider taking proactive measures to avoid being blindsided by future microplastic-related laws. California’s adoption of the Statewide Microplastics Strategy is the first attempt by a U.S. state to...more
As the International Summit on Plastic Pollution gets underway, I'll be sharing some of the conclusions reached by a team of French and American lawyers regarding the very different responses of France and the United States...more
Last week, the Ocean Protection Council adopted California’s Statewide Microplastics Strategy. The strategy is the first of its kind in the nation, focusing on outlining steps to address microplastic pollution, an emerging...more
As the inveterate pundit Pogo once said, “We have met the enemy and he is us.” This could very well be said for our disposable society, which uses and disposes tons of plastic in ways that are not wise and negatively impact...more
[co-authors: Erin Eastwood, Justin Fisch, and Lara McDonough] Ocean plastic pollution is a growing challenge that has captured the attention and concern of governments, businesses, and the public alike. As images and...more
Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation Centralizes Some COVID‐19 Related Insurance Cases As reported in our September update, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation at its July 2020 hearing session requested...more
As noted in previous posts (see previous posts of 03-13-18 and 03-14-18 here) House Bill (“H.B.”) 1007 and Senate Bill (“S.B.) 8 would add a subsection to a section of Subchapter 2 (Water Pollution) of the Arkansas Water and...more