Today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission dealt a major blow to the Constitution Pipeline after rejecting the pipeline builder’s petition for a declaratory order that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation took too long to consider a crucial water quality certification. This denial reaffirms states' rights to review the impacts of these projects on their water.
Baton Rouge, LA -- Today, a coalition of environmental groups filed a lawsuit challenging the approval of the Bayou Bridge pipeline. The pipeline, proposed by Energy Transfer Partners (ETP), the company behind the controversial Dakota Access pipeline, would carry fracked oil across the Atchafalaya Basin, the largest river swamp in the country, and would threaten the water supply for more than 300,000 people in southern Louisiana.
In today’s White House press briefing, NBC News asked if there was a political component to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s removal of Florida from the draft offshore drilling plan just days after the plan was released. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders claimed that she is “not aware of any political favor.”
San Francisco, CA-- Today the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) took a massive step toward a clean energy future by passing a resolution that will order Pacific Gas & Electric, one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, to buy clean resources instead of relying on gas plants and by approving 15 pilot programs to support electrification of cars, trucks and buses through infrastructure deployment and other measures, which will be implemented by the State’s three investor-owned utilities.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Yesterday, Hagens Berman, a law firm representing Ford owners, filed a lawsuit alleging Ford Motor Co installed software, often referred to as defeat devices, that enabled its F-250 and F-350 Super Duty trucks to cheat federal emissions tests.
Annapolis, M.D. – Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh with Senate President Thomas Miller and House Speaker Michael Busch hosted a public hearing today on the repeal of the Clean Power Plan, underscoring the critical notion that Maryland stands with people across the state and around the nation who are committed to a carbon-pollution-free future.
(Pittsburgh, PA) January 11, 2018 –Sierra Club and the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper, represented by PennFuture and the Law Office of Howard Crystal, filed a settlement Wednesday with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that will reduce toxic pollution in waterways from 10 coal-fired power plants that had been operating in the state with expired water permits.
Oakland, Calif., --- Today, Judge Vince Chhabria heard arguments for summary judgment on Oakland’s ordinance that bans the storage and handling of dirty coal. He did not indicate a ruling on motions for summary judgment based on preemption or commerce clause arguments, but did order that trial begin on Tuesday, January 16th to address whether the City’s decision to adopt the Ordinance is consistent with the contract between the City of Oakland and developers of the Oakland Bulk and Oversized Terminal.
Washington, DC -- Today, the EPA’s Inspector General’s office announced that it was expanding the scope of its review of Scott Pruitt’s travel for a third time. Pruitt was one of Donald Trump’s cabinet officials who was caught using public dollars for private air travel, though he did not face the same punishment as former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price who lost his job.
Conservation groups filed an amended complaint today to sue the US Environmental Protection Agency for failing to ensure that Illinois’ Clean Air Act state implementation plan includes measures to prohibit conflicts of interest on state boards and agency leadership overseeing regulatory matters on air pollution. The groups sued EPA this fall for failing to ensure the same protective measures are in place in Mississippi and Alabama.