Source: Risk Management, February 12, 2013 By: Anne E. Viner and David L. Rieser Vapor intrusion may soon become an important environmental concern for commercial property owners, buyers, developers and lenders. While this is not a new issue, burgeoning state regulations, upcoming federal guidance and new environmental auditing standards—if passed—may make vapor intrusion a critical […]

Source: BestWire Services, February 22, 2013 Posted on: http://fpn.advisen.com As contractors continue to rebuild properties damaged by Hurricane Sandy, insurers could see a spike in environmental claims stemming from mold, said Dan Gmelin, the head of the asbestos and environmental product line for Hiscox USA. “It’s still early to see mold claims surfacing, but the […]

Read here about a chemical spill into a Montana river that was diluted by water from another river.

Source: China Economic Information Service (Xinhua), February 21, 2013 Posted on: http://envfpn.advisen.com A company that supplies accessories for Apple was fined for intentionally discharging pollutants and damaging a river in Shanghai, environmental authorities said Thursday. RiTeng Computer Accessory Co., Ltd. was recently found to have dumped waste fluid into a drainage system, polluting a river […]

<span style="font-size:x-small;"Source: OsterDowJones Select, February 21, 2013 Posted on: http://envfpn.advisen.com For the first time, some Chinese companies in industries that pose serious risks to the environment are being required to take out insurance. China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection said Thursday that its pilot insurance plan is now mandatory for mining and smelting producers, lead-acid battery […]

Read here about proposed fracking regulations in Illinois that have been drafted by industry and environmentalists.

Source: MHN Online, February 8, 2013 By: Kevin Smith, Vice President & Real Estate Practice Group Leader, The Graham Company While most property owners are familiar with coverage for their portfolio of properties, there are some unique provisions and exposures inherent in property under construction, whether new or renovation of existing buildings. A properly structured […]

Source: http://news.yahoo.com, February 20, 2013 By: Kevin Murphy, Reuters A blast and fire that flattened a Kansas City restaurant, killing a young woman and injuring 15 others, apparently erupted an hour after a contractor installing cable nearby severed a natural gas line and caused a leak, officials said on Wednesday. The eatery, JJ’s restaurant, in […]

Source: http://www.lexology.com, February 15, 2013 By: David Erickson and Mark Anstoetter, Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP A federal court in California has dismissed the City of San Diego’s claims against the owner of a former petroleum depot. California v. Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., No. 07-cv-1883 (S.D. Cal. 1/25/13). Petroleum from the former depot operation […]

Source: http://www.lexology.com, February 19, 2013 By: Brian Margolies, Traub Lieberman Straus & Shrewsberry LLP In its recent decision in Cincinnati Ins. Co. v. Devon International, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20659 (E.D. Pa. Feb. 15, 2013), the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, applying Pennsylvania law, had occasion to consider whether a […]

Source: http://www.lexology.com, February 15, 2013 By: David Erickson and Mark Anstoetter, Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP A federal court in Missouri has determined that a floor-sealing product used by a construction cleanup company was not a “pollutant” and that the company’s insurer must defend and indemnify claims based on exposure to the sealant’s fumes. United […]

Read here about a $1.6 million settlement that has been reached with multiple companies as a result of toxic pollution.