FERC revised the pro forma Open Access Transmission Tariff to remedy deficiencies in the Commission’s existing regional and local transmission planning and cost allocation requirements. 

EPA entered into a CERCLA settlement agreement with LPC Holdings, Inc., concerning recovery of cleanup costs at the Aberdeen Contaminated Groundwater Superfund Site in Aberdeen, North Carolina. 

EPA proposed to enter into individual CERCLA settlements with seven additional parties concerning the recovery of cleanup costs at Bennett Landfill Fire Site in Chester, South Carolina. 

EPA determined that Alabama’s coal combustion residuals permit program does not meet the standard for approval under RCRA. 

DOI proposed to revise seven categorical exclusions under NEPA in the Bureau of Reclamation’s NEPA implementing procedures. 

United States v. Union Carbide Corp., No. 1:24-cv-01463 (D. Colo. May 23, 2024). Under a proposed consent decree, settling CERCLA defendants must pay $600,000 to reimburse response costs incurred at the Uravan Uranium Project Superfund Site in Montrose County, Colorado, and to comply with institutional controls and other requirements for property owned within the site. 

FERC amended its regulations governing applications for permits to site electric transmission facilities under the Federal Power Act, as amended by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, and amended its NEPA procedures.

United States v. Norfolk Southern Railway Co., No. 4:23-cv-00517 (N.D. Ohio May 23, 2024). In connection with the February 3, 2023, train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, a proposed consent decree requires a settling CWA and CERCLA defendant to (1) reimburse all response costs incurred by the United States; (2) pay a civil penalty of $15 million; (3) establish a $25 million community health program for qualifying members of the public impacted by the derailment; (4) implement an array of specified rail safety procedures; (5) develop and adopt programs for coordination of rail track restoration and vent and burn procedures; (6) implement a $6 million local waterways remediation plan; (7) pay $175,000 for natural resource damages; and (8) implement compliance and future monitoring requirements. 

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration proposed overdue updates to the registration fees under the statutorily mandated registration and fee assessment program for persons who transport, or offer for transportation, certain categories and quantities of hazardous materials. 

EPA provided notice of upcoming public meetings that will be jointly held by the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council and the White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council, consistent with Executive Order No. 14096, Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All.