United States v. General Recycling of Washington, LLC, No. 2:24-cv-00329 (W.D. Wash. Mar. 12, 2024). Under a proposed consent decree, settling CERCLA, CWA, and OPA defendants must construct, monitor, and maintain a habitat restoration project and pay a total of $360,558.12 for assessment costs in connection with natural resource damages caused by releases of hazardous substances and discharges of oil from facilities located near the Lower Duwamish River.
EPA announced the availability of and seeks comment on the 2024 draft risk evaluation for formaldehyde prepared under TSCA.
United States v. Crowley Marine Services, Inc., No. 2:24-cv-00307 (W.D. Wash. Mar. 7, 2024). Under a proposed consent decree, settling CERCLA, CWA, and OPA defendants must purchase credits in a habitat restoration project constructed along the Lower Duwamish River, pay a total of $210,000 for natural resource damages, and pay $64,325.63 to reimburse assessment costs in connection with natural resource damages caused by releases of hazardous substances and discharges of oil from facilities located along and near the river.
EPA entered into a proposed settlement agreement in Ecology Center v. U.S. EPA, No. 23-70158 (9th Cir.), that would resolve all claims in the case by establishing deadlines for EPA to take final action regarding a rulemaking under TSCA regulating lead wheel weights.
EPA announced a 60-day public comment period associated with release of the draft IRIS Toxicological Review of Perfluorononanoic Acid and Related Salts.
EPA proposed to remove polytetrafluoroethylene from the current list of inert ingredients approved for use in food use and nonfood use pesticide products because it has been identified as a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance that is no longer used in any registered pesticide product.
EPA amended the 2018 final rule that established fees for the administration of TSCA.
From cookware to dental floss to stain-resistant fabrics, PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, pervade modern life. PFAS are a family of thousands of synthetic chemicals that have a variety of unique qualities that make them useful in industrial and consumer product applications. Unfortunately, there is a growing scientific recognition that many PFAS come with a cost to public health and the environment. While federal and state action is just beginning for PFAS and the regulatory landscape is changing quickly, the toxicity of many PFAS has been well-established.
The United States has historically valued free access to most public lands. But federal land management agencies also rely on users’ fee dollars to support critical operations. This tension between “free access” and “user pays” has been an important feature of public land law since the late 1800s. The primary statute at issue is the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA), which authorizes fees at some sites while mandating free access at others.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs proclaimed approximately 1,483.03 acres as an addition to the reservation of Pascua Yaqui Tribe.