Source: Cozen O’Connor’s Energy, Environmental and Utilities Group “News Concerning Recent Developments in Energy and Environmental Law” Newsletter, August 16, 2011 On July 29, 2011, President Obama unveiled the largest increase in corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards since the 1970s. While the proposal must now enter the interagency review process, the administration hopes to […]

Source: Cozen O’Connor’s Energy, Environmental and Utilities Group “News Concerning Recent Developments in Energy and Environmental Law” Newsletter, August 16, 2011 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is mandated by the Clean Air Act to review ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) every five years. Following the latest scheduled review in 2008, President Bush reduced […]

Source: Cozen O’Connor’s Energy, Environmental and Utilities Group “News Concerning Recent Developments in Energy and Environmental Law” Newsletter, August 16, 2011 The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released its Final Rule on Transmission Planning and Cost Allocation by Transmission Owning and Operating Public Utilities on July 21, 2011. The new rule is meant to address […]

Source: Cozen O’Connor’s Energy, Environmental and Utilities Group “News Concerning Recent Developments in Energy and Environmental Law” Newsletter, August 16, 2011 On May 16, 2011, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) initiated the annual process for New Jersey’s four Electric Distribution Companies (EDCs) to participate in auctions to procure billions of dollars of […]

Source: Cozen O’Connor’s Energy, Environmental and Utilities Group “News Concerning Recent Developments in Energy and Environmental Law” Newsletter, August 16, 2011 On June 7, 2011, Governor Christie release a draft version of the 2011 New Jersey Energy Master Plan (EMP), which outlines New Jersey’s immediate and long-term energy policy. The governor’s office and the New […]

Source: Cozen O’Connor’s Energy, Environmental and Utilities Group “News Concerning Recent Developments in Energy and Environmental Law” Newsletter, August 16, 2011 In an order released on July 19, 2011, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) declined to institute a formal rulemaking proceeding on smart grid standards, after FERC determined that five “families” of standards developed by […]

Source: Cozen O’Connor’s Energy, Environmental and Utilities Group “News Concerning Recent Developments in Energy and Environmental Law” Newsletter, August 16, 2011 On March 8, 2011, Governor Corbett created the Governor’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission (the commission). Comprising 30 stakeholders including experts from the environmental community, the natural gas industry, local government representatives, and state government […]

Source: http://www.mcall.com, August 9, 2011 By: Devon Lash Contractor says city knew land was contaminated with arsenic but did not disclose it. A Saylorsburg contractor hired to build a route to help smooth traffic in east Allentown has sued the city for more than $2 million, saying Allentown officials knew the land was contaminated with […]

Source: http://southfield.injuryboard.com, August 8, 2011 By: Mark Bello Plaintiffs alleged that from 1986 to 1994, the owners of a smelting plant knowingly exposed residents to lead pollution, a neurotoxin that is especially harmful to children, and knew about the potential health risks, but failed to ensure emissions from the plant were safe and also failed […]

Source: http://www.montereyherald.com, August 6, 2011 Two companies agreed to pay $110,000 in fines this week for asbestos violations stemming from a 2009 renovation project at Windsor Monterey Care Center. The work involved scraping an asbestos-laden acoustic ceiling. The facility’s parent company was faulted for failing to conduct a federally required asbestos survey or to notify […]

Source: http://www.insurancejournal.com, August 8, 2011 The Navigators Group Inc. and its principal underwriting agency subsidiary, Navigators Management Co. Inc., expanded its online system for contractors pollution liability insurance. New enhancements to the online platform include options for affirmative coverage for fungus/mold caused by negligent contracting operations; increased available limits up to $2 million each occurrence […]

Source: International Herald Tribune, August 5, 2011 Posted on: http://envfpn.advisen.com Critics of drilling method find it hard to get access to energy firms records. For decades, oil and gas industry executives as well as regulators have maintained that a drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, that is used for most natural gas wells […]