Legal Corner

EPA Headquarters building at the Federal Triangle in Washington, DC.

WOTUS amended to conform to Supreme Court decision

September 11, 2023 at 10:45 am 0 comments

In late August, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of the Army (the agencies) announced a final rule to amend the definition of “waters of the United States” to conform with the recent Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA. The agenciesRead More

California attorney general leads coalition opposing 3M PFAS settlement

California attorney general leads coalition opposing 3M PFAS settlement

July 31, 2023 at 7:59 am 0 comments

California Attorney General Rob Bonta last week, leading a bipartisan coalition of 22 attorneys general, announced the state’s opposition to a proposed class action settlement that he says fails to adequately hold accountable the 3M Company for contaminating Americans’ drinking water supply. Under the proposed settlement, water providers wouldRead More

Court pauses cybersecurity rule following legal challenge

Court pauses cybersecurity rule following legal challenge

July 13, 2023 at 11:21 am 0 comments

This week the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit granted a request from the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the National Rural Water Association (NRWA) to stop the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Cybersecurity Rule from going into effect until a current caseRead More

3M to pay at least $10.3 billion as major PFAS settlement reached

3M to pay at least $10.3 billion as major PFAS settlement reached

June 26, 2023 at 11:00 am 0 comments

Chemical manufacturing company 3M announced it has agreed to pay at least $10.3 billion in lawsuit settlements over contamination of water systems from PFAS, harmful chemical compounds the water sector has been cracking down on. If approved by the court, it would be the largestRead More

Supreme Court narrows wetlands protections; Biden’s EPA ‘disappointed’ with decision

Supreme Court narrows wetlands protections; Biden’s EPA ‘disappointed’ with decision

May 30, 2023 at 9:04 am 0 comments

In a blow to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authority over some water bodies, the Supreme Court last week ruled to narrow the scope of the “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) definition and how EPA can regulate wetlands under the Clean Water Act.Read More

Associations endorse bill to hold PFAS polluters liable for cleanup

Associations endorse bill to hold PFAS polluters liable for cleanup

May 8, 2023 at 8:32 am 0 comments

Five water sector associations representing drinking and clean water utility systems submitted a letter to Congress last week in support of the “Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act.” The bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate and aims to hold polluters accountable for Per-and PolyfluoroalkylRead More

New Hampshire rebuffs 3M’s attempt to move PFAS case to federal court

New Hampshire rebuffs 3M’s attempt to move PFAS case to federal court

May 1, 2023 at 9:13 am 0 comments

Recently, the State of New Hampshire, represented by Attorney General John Formella and a legal team led by Ken Sansone of SL Environmental Law Group, defeated an effort to move its case against 3M Company, E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Company, and The Chemours CompanyRead More

Holding Polluters Accountable for Removing PFAS from Drinking Water

Holding Polluters Accountable for Removing PFAS from Drinking Water

April 10, 2023 at 9:30 am 0 comments

In March 2023 the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) – two common types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – at 4 parts per trillion (ppt). The EPA also proposed to regulate fourRead More

Sunny Slope Water Company Shifts Contamination Costs to Polluters

Sunny Slope Water Company Shifts Contamination Costs to Polluters

March 22, 2023 at 8:35 am 0 comments

By Ken Sansone Across the country, water suppliers are discovering harmful contaminants in their water source and facing the question of how to pay for cleanup. While the supplier, the contaminant and the impacted community vary from case to case, one solution has proved effectiveRead More

In 2016, DC Water issued a unique $25 million Environmental Impact Bond, the proceeds of which went to green infrastructure projects to reduce the flow of stormwater into the Potomac River.

PFAS is Lining Up to be the Most Expensive Environmental Hazard in History

March 15, 2023 at 7:00 am 0 comments

By Michael DiGiannantonio The U.S. EPA has released its proposed maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) – two common types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Under the proposed MCLs, drinking water utilities across the country would be forcedRead More