United States v. French Limited, Inc., No. 4:89-cv-2544 (S.D. Tex. Apr. 26, 2024). A proposed agreement and order regarding fourth amendment of consent decree lodged under CERCLA modifies the consent decree to reflect the revised work requirements of the 2014 record of decision amendment, provide for the reimbursement to EPA of certain response costs, and provide for the disbursement to members of the working group of funds received by EPA in a bankruptcy settlement payment for the French Limited Superfund Site located near Crosby, Texas. 

United States v. Sunoco Pipeline, No. 1:24-cv-00238-SJD. (S.D. Ohio Apr. 29, 2024). A settling CWA and OPA defendant that was responsible for crude oil escaping from a ruptured pipeline, contaminating WOTUS, and causing damage to natura resources must pay a civil penalty of $550,000, as well as $1,250,000 to compensate for harm to natural resources. 

United States v. Dow Silicones Corp., No. 19-11880 (E.D. Mich. Apr. 24, 2024). A proposed consent decree modification extends a deadline for a settling CWA defendant’s implementation of a stormwater capacity and pollutant evaluation from January 24, 2023, to January 24, 2026, and also includes requirements to mitigate any environmental harm associated with the extension of the deadline.

EPA revised the water quality standards (WQS) regulation under the CWA to add requirements for states establishing WQS in waters where tribes hold and assert rights to CWA-protected aquatic and aquatic-dependent resources reserved through treaties, statutes, or executive orders.

EPA granted a treatment variance, requested by DOE, from the Land Disposal Restrictions treatment standards for approximately 2,000 gallons of mixed hazardous low-activity radioactive waste from DOE’s Test Bed Initiative for the Hanford Site in Washington State. 

United States v. San Diego, City of, No. 3:23-cv-00541-LL-BGS (S.D. Cal. Apr. 22, 2024). Under a proposed consent decree, settling CERCLA defendants must collectively pay $2,412,029.89 for reimbursement of response costs incurred in connection with the release of hazardous substances at the former Naval Training Center in San Diego, California. 

EPA denied a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity requesting that discarded polyvinyl chloride be listed as a hazardous waste under RCRA. 

United States v. General Dynamics Corp., No. 6:24-cv-00722 (M.D. Fla. Apr. 18, 2024). Under a proposed consent decree, settling CERCLA defendants that released and/or threatened releases of hazardous substances into the environment at the General Dynamics Longwood Superfund Site located in Longwood, Florida, must perform a remedial design and remedial action for the site, reimburse EPA for its past response costs for the site, and pay future costs related to the work. 

United States v. PPG Industries, Inc., No. 2:24-04771 (D.N.J. Apr. 11, 2024). Under a proposed consent decree concerning the Riverside Industrial Park Superfund Site in Newark, New Jersey, a settling CERCLA defendant must design and implement the components of the remedy selected for the site in EPA's September 28, 2021, record of decision that relate to waste material, sewer water, soil gas, and soil/fill material; perform groundwater monitoring and implement institutional controls; reimburse the United States $2,883,120 and New Jersey $116,880 for past response costs relating to the site; and pay for future response costs to be incurred.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration amended its existing standards to better protect miners against occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica, a significant health hazard, and to improve respiratory protection for miners from exposure to airborne contaminants.