Environment Reporter: Current Developments Index-Summary

GASOLINE (8006-61-9)

– Aviation gasoline, oil companies entitled to damages, interest for cleanup of waste from manufacture for military during WWII (Fed. Cl.), 821
– Distributor NESHAP, consent decree requires EPA to clarify applicability, duplicate requirements, 1543
– Ethanol content

See ETHANOL (64-17-5)

– Lead in aviation fuel, Outlook 2009, SplRpt (1/16/09) S–6
– Refineries

See REFINERIES

– Renewable fuel content

See RENEWABLE ENERGY, subheading: Fuels

– USTs

See UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS (USTs)

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (USGS)

– Director, McNutt confirmation, In Brief, 2528
– Economic stimulus funding, In Brief, 884
– FY2010 budget, administration requests increase in climate research, 1080

GEORGIA

– Chattahoochee River electric plant, ruling vacating building permit overturned (Ga. Ct. App.), 1665; appeal denied (Ga.), 2373
– Drinking water allocation from federal reservoir (U.S., rev den), 117; Atlanta needs congressional approval to use water (M.D. Fla.), 1779
– Landfills, TVA plans permanent disposal of coal ash from impoundment breach, 1176
– Sewer inspectors reporting county noncompliance not entitled to whistleblower, First Amendment protections (11th Cir.), 1310
– Superfund

– – Shopping center property manager not liable as owner (N.D. Ga.), 2408
– – Voluntary actions, governor signs bill to accelerate cleanups, 1087

– Wetlands

– – Forest road exception inapplicable to logging company's road building without dredge-and-fill permit (S.D. Ga.), 1961
– – Regional condition eliminated, rule change renders challenge moot (11th Cir.), 286

GLASS INDUSTRY

– Insurance, transfer of assets and liabilities to subsidiary transfers coverage for pre-existing environmental liabilities (N.D. Ohio), 1916

GOLD MINING

– Cortez Hills project, injunction denied, excavation for expansion may begin (D. Nev.), 232
– Cyanide heap-leach mining, county ban preempted by state mining law (Colo.), 194
– Kensington Gold Mine discharges into lake, regulatory jurisdiction of mine waste (U.S., oral arg), 115; waste regulated as fill material (rvs), 1511; injunction lifted (9th Cir.), 1720; EPA seeks modification to permit, 1778; Corps of Engineers reissues permit, 2015
– NAFTA, environmental protections imposed by Cal., U.S. no violation against Canadian firm, 1371
– Pebble Project, native coalition seeks immediate cessation of exploration activities (Alaska Super. Ct.), 1910
– Philippine province suit against Canadian firm over environmental impact of open-pit operations remanded to Nev. court (9th Cir.), 2295
– Rock Creek Gold Mine, owner/operator settles CWA violations at idle Alaska minesite (D. Alaska), 1126
– Sensitive watersheds in Northwest national forests, Forest Serv. has authority to regulate, but should consider restrictions on case-by-case basis (9th Cir.), 1119
– Supreme Court cases, Outlook 2009, SplRpt (1/16/09) S–32

GRANTS

– Air quality, state regulators seek increase in federal funding, 974
– American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds

See generally AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT (ARRA)

– Animal waste management, N.C. announces funding for installation of alternative technologies at hog farms, 1466
– Asthma in children, university to study effects of highway air pollution, 1624
– Beaches, water monitoring

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 2093, S 878

– Brownfields

See BROWNFIELDS

– Coastal state identification of renewable energy sites

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 1690

– D.C. agency risk designation, EPA cancellation, In Brief, 724
– Diesel engine emissions reductions

See DIESEL ENGINES

– Discharge permits, state officials urge EPA to withdraw rule linking to implementation of fee programs, 288; EPA to rescind rule linking water grants to program fees, Jackson tells conference, 705; EPA withdraws rule, 830; EPA issues final rule withdrawing regulation, In Brief, 879
– Electricity transmission

– – Demonstration projects, regulators suggest criteria for awarding funds, 758
– – Economic stimulus funds, Biden announces $4B for distribution, 922
– – Maximum funding amounts increased, administration announces in White House meeting with business executives, 1165
– – Smart grid technology, DOE solicits proposals, 1558

– Electronic waste, research and development

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 1580

– Energy efficiency, state and local governments to receive $3.2B in economic stimulus funding, 761; DOE makes $2.7B available, 923
– Mass transit, new stimulus program aims to reduce energy use, GHG emissions, 689; Clean Cities Program, In Brief, 930
– Nanotechnology, NIEHS research funding available, 881
– Oil spill research

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 2693

– Particulate matter research

– – Award, In Brief, 375
– – Health effects, awards, In Brief, 806

– Sewer system modernization

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, S 936

– State revolving funds

See STATE REVOLVING FUNDS (SRFs)

– Truck fuel efficiency and emissions control, Colo. governor signs bill, 1464
– Urban forest restoration, New York City training grant, In Brief, 846
– Water infrastructure, appropriators agree upgrades warrant increase in grants instead of loans, 1003
– Water quality, USDA announds $57.9M to fund projects, 1901

GREAT LAKES

– Areas of concern, Inspector General says EPA needs broader cleanup plan, clarification of authority, responsibility, 2201
– DOI FY2010 budget request includes restoration funds, 1129
– Economic stimulus package should include restoration, cleanup funding, state legislators say, 24
– EPA FY2010 budget, Jackson discusses funding at appropriations hearing, 1195
– Funding expansion

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 1262, S 933

– Invasive species report, In Brief, 73
– Management, CEQ proposes strategy to restore, protect waters, 2248; Mass. environment official asks task force to consider states' views in drafting policy, 2302
– Marine diesel engine emission limits

– – Exemption

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 2996

– – Ports seek exclusions citing economic impacts, 2327; air advisory committee endorses panel recommendation to issue rules without exemption, 2392; Northeastern states ask Feinstein (D-Cal) to ensure EPA issues rule without exemption, 2441

– Multiagency initiative included in EPA budget proposal, 1077; Obama appoints Davis to lead proposed initiative, 1378
– Phosphorus in dishwasher detergents, Mich. governor signs bill limiting content, In Brief, 84
– President Obama dedicated to cleanup, administration supports establishment of $5B trust fund, Jackson tells conference, 435
– Protection and restoration, Mich. recommends $3B in federal funding annually, 120
– Shore protection, Wis. proposes major revisions of rules, 1468; resources board approves revisions, 1587
– Wind power, wildlife official urges stronger bird protection, 1172

GREENLAND

– Ice sheet melting could impact northeastern sea levels more than others, study predicts, 1296
– Thule AFB, agreement reached with Denmark on draft cleanup plan, 2063

GROUNDWATER

See also DRINKING WATER
– Carbon tetrachloride, discretionary function exemption bars personal injury claims over exposure while living on former Army base (N.D. Cal.), 332
– Carbonate aquifers, USGS rates water quality as acceptable for most sources, 1572
– Chlorinated solvents, prior owner of Neb. property not liable for contamination in two suits (D. Neb.), 111
– Class of Fla. property owners certified in suit alleging contamination (M.D. Fla.), 2359
– Grand Staircase-Escalante Natl. Monument management plan does not infringe on water rights (10th Cir.), 882
– Hanford Site cleanup, proposed changes to cleanup agreement puts greater focus on Columbia River protection, 330; agencies seek comments, 561
– Hypothetical residents, contamination poses no imminent threat under RCRA (S.D.N.Y.), 232
– Injection wells

See INJECTION WELLS

– Metals recycler ordered to comply with Colo. hazardous waste laws, identify contaminants (Colo. Dist. Ct.), 582; co-owner sentenced to jail, probation for violations of state laws, 2310
– Mines and mining, Idaho legislature approves exemption, 300
– Monitoring under access order not trespassing (D. N.J.), 790
– Perchloroethylene, Cal. town wins $18.3M product liability judgment (Cal. Super. Ct.), 1264
– Perfluorochemical contamination

– – Disposal, scope of suit narrowed, damage claims reduced (Minn. Dist. Ct.), 257; releases did not affect property values, 1525
– – Minn. proposes $21M cleanup for 3M site, 1325

– Perfluorochemicals levels elevated in Minn. city residents, study finds, 1735
– Successor liability, common-law claims barred by statute of limitations, brownfields statute claim timely (Ind.), 252
– Superfund sites

See generally SUPERFUND

– TCE contamination

See TRICHLOROETHYLENE (79-01-6)

GROUP OF 8 (G-8)

– Climate change issues interlinked with oil prices, energy efficiency, ministers agree, 1240
– Kyoto Protocol successor agreement, nations pledge 80 percent emissions reduction by 2050, no decision on baseline, 1630

GROUP OF 20 (G-20)

– Kyoto Protocol, countries renew pledge to reach successor agreement by end of year, 813; Obama to urge leaders to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, 2229; leaders agree to push phaseout of subsidies, 2289; IAE official acknowledges receipt of Obama request to study effects of subsidy phaseout, 2403

GULF OF MEXICO

– Nutrients

– – Hypoxia

– – – Dead zone smaller, deeper than expected, NOAA reports, 1846
– – – Watersheds, USGS identifies top 150 responsible for dead zone, 835

– – Spring delivery highest measured in 3 decades, USGS study finds, 1447

– Offshore oil and gas leases, Senate panel bill expands drilling into last remaining off-limits areas, prompts filibuster threat by Nelson (D-Fla), 1388
– Sea turtles, conservation groups file suit alleging failure to protect (N.D. Fla.), 950