Category: Greenberg Glusker
GREENberg bLAWg Named a 2011 Top 50 Blog by LexisNexis Environmental Law & Climate Change Community
Launched in the aftermath of the BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Greenberg Glusker’s GREENberg bLAWg was recognized, on the one-year anniversary of the disaster, as a “Top 50 Blog 2011” by the LexisNexis Environmental Law & Climate Change Community for its quality coverage connecting the environment and law. The frequently...
Ninth Circuit Agrees With Other Circuits In Barring Pre-Enforcement Challenges To Clean Water Act Administrative Compliance Orders
The U. S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has joined the Fourth, Sixth, Seventh and Tenth Circuits in holding that the Clean Water Act precludes pre-enforcement review of compliance orders alleging violations of the Act. In an opinion issued September 17, 2010 (Sackett v. EPA), the court ruled that landowners who had...
EPA Holds Hearings on Hydraulic Fracturing
As part of a broad investigation into the practice of pressurized injection of water, sand, and chemicals to extract natural gas from shale, known as hydraulic fracturing or fracking, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held several public hearings this week in Binghamton, New York. Hydraulic fracturing operates by the...
EPA Takes Steps Under The Clean Water Act to Protect California’s Coastline
On August 25, 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the nation’s largest coastal “No Discharge Zone,” covering California’s entire 1,624 miles of coastline. Pursuant to the federal Clean Water Act, states may request EPA to establish vessel no-discharge zones to protect and restore water quality. Non-sewage discharge from vessels...
Kerry to Settle For Clean Energy Bill?
With the collapse of the Senate’s intention to consider even a scaled-down cap and trade bill before its August recess, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) has re-entered the fray. Kerry, along with Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT), earlier introduced the American Power Act, a major component of which was a multi-sector cap and trade requirement. When...
Senate to Defer on Cap and Trade
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced that the scaled-down energy bill he intends to introduce before the August recess will not include either a cap and trade provision or a renewable energy portfolio requirement. Acknowledging that he could not command 60 votes for even a utility-only cap and trade program, Reid will...
Greenberg Glusker Named A 2010 Climate Action Leader By Climate Action Reserve
One of a Few Law Firms Earning Distinction For the third year in a row, the Climate Action Reserve, and its affiliated California Climate Action Registry, has awarded Greenberg Glusker the recognition of “Climate Action Leader.” The leadership status, the standard used in the state’s public reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG...
Prospects for Utility-Only Cap and Trade Bill Remain Unclear
Although Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) plans to introduce energy legislation by the end of July, it is uncertain if, and to what extent, the bill will include a cap and trade provision. Reid continues to state that he will bring a four-part energy and climate package to the Senate...
Tea Leaf Reading From Murkowski Resolution Vote?
Acting pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced a “resolution of disapproval” seeking to veto EPA’s endangerment finding regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The endangerment finding is the foundation for EPA’s vehicle emission standards and the newly adopted regulations covering GHG emissions from stationary sources. While failing by 47 – 53 on...
Timing and Incentives Differentiate Senate and House Climate Bills
Although Senators Kerry (D-MA) and Lieberman’s (I-CT) recently released American Power Act and the American Clean Energy and Security Act, passed by the House in June 2009, call for identical reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 17% below 2005 levels by 2020 and 83% below those levels by 2050, they differ in...
Coastal Senators Seek Increased Liability for Oil Spills
In the wake of the massive Gulf Coast oil spill, three coastal Senators have introduced legislation entitled the “Big Oil Bailout Prevention Act.” The bill was introduced on May 3, 2010 by Senators Robert Menendez (D – NJ), Frank Lautenberg (D – NJ), and Bill Nelson (D – FL). Under the...
Reid – Graham Standoff Continues on Senate Climate Change Legislation
The Kerry-Lieberman-Graham Senate climate change bill that was scheduled for a public unveiling on April 26, 2010 remains under wraps. Days before its scheduled introduction, Sen. Graham (R-SC) withdrew his support for the legislation he had been working on with Senators Kerry (D – MA) and Lieberman (I &ndash...
Greenberg Glusker Environmental Litigation Team Wins Court Affirmation of Culver City Moratorium on New Oil Well Drilling By PXP
Rights of Old Oil Do Not Trump Needs of New Residents; Related CEQA Lawsuit Against LA County Set for April 5th Trial Greenberg Glusker today announced that the Los Angeles Superior Court has upheld the right of its client, the City of Culver City, California, to regulate expansion and...
The Greening of Greenberg Glusker’s New Offices
The California Climate Action Registry recently recognized Greenberg Glusker for the firm’s extensive commitment to climate change and sustainability. That commitment was on display in the office remodel making it a true green office. The key elements included recycling and reusing materials from the old design and incorporating them...
Red, White & Green
California wineries are joining the increasing number of industries that are instituting sustainable and carbon-friendly methods of operation. To date, although only one winery, located in Napa Valley, has received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council , numerous wineries and vineyards...
