Following her curiosity: Chief Environmental Law Judge Davidsen preparing for retirement after 20 years
The path to judgeship wasn’t a straight shot for Chief Environmental Law Judge Mary Davidsen, but she let her curiosity lead her along the way.
Energy & Environmental Law
Articles
Alcoa facing legal action over allegations of illegal dumping
A pair of environmental groups is preparing to file a lawsuit against Pittsburgh-based Alcoa Corp. over alleged violations of the Clear Water Act at the company’s Warrick Operations in Newburgh.
Joint IU Maurer, McKinney symposium to focus on implications of Sackett Clean Water Act decision
A May decision from the U.S. Supreme Court that narrowed environmental regulations on wetlands not connected to larger bodies of water will be the focus of an upcoming joint symposium hosted by IU Maurer and IU McKinney.
EPA delays new ozone pollution standards until after 2024 election
The Environmental Protection Agency is delaying plans to tighten air quality standards for ground-level ozone—better known as smog—despite a recommendation by a scientific advisory panel to lower air pollution limits to protect public health.
After Supreme Court curtails federal power, Biden administration weakens clean water protections
The Biden administration weakened regulations protecting millions of acres of wetlands Tuesday, saying it had no choice after the Supreme Court sharply limited the federal government’s jurisdiction over them.
Supreme Court allows construction to resume on the Mountain Valley Pipeline
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday allowed construction to resume on a contested natural-gas pipeline that is being built through Virginia and West Virginia.
Indiana lawmakers could further dilute state wetlands protections following SCOTUS decision
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling from earlier this year will effectively remove federal protections for most of Indiana’s wetlands — and enable Hoosier lawmakers to repeal already-weakened state protections for those areas.
Supreme Court limits federal power over wetlands, boosts property rights over clean water
The Supreme Court on Thursday made it harder for the federal government to police water pollution in a decision that strips protections from wetlands that are isolated from larger bodies of water.
Draft EPA rule could impact nearly 50 Indiana coal ash dumps
Draft federal regulations for toxic coal byproducts could cover nearly 50 exempted dumps spread across 14 locations in Indiana.
More than two dozen cities and states are suing Big Oil over climate change — they just got a boost from the US Supreme Court
Local and state governments that are suing major oil companies want to hold them responsible for the costs of responding to disasters that scientists are increasingly able to attribute to climate disruption and tie back to the fossil fuel industry.
IndyBar: The EPA and PFAS
The EPA is cracking down on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a ubiquitous family of chemicals that can be found everywhere from dairy farms and military bases to nonstick pans and food packaging.
Bill that would change wetlands definition passes Indiana House committee
Democrats, environmental groups and business leaders are denouncing a bill that they say would further erode protections for Indiana’s already shrinking wetlands.
Judge declines to enter summary judgment in Newton Co. CAFO case, stays proceedings
Opting to wait until the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completes its second review of a Newton County CAFO, the Indiana Northern District Court declined Monday to enter summary judgment for two environmental associations suing the CAFO’s operator.
U.S. Supreme Court keeps wetland damage lawsuits in state courts
A lawsuit against oil and gas companies over damage to Louisiana’s wetlands will remain in state court, the U.S. Supreme Court said, rejecting an appeal by major energy companies who wanted to get the case moved to a federal court.
Huldin: EPA approves Phase I standard: Is your real estate deal ready?
ASTM and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have added new requirements for a Phase I to meet compliance with the all appropriate inquiry requirements.
Shoultz & Wheeler: Keeping the lights on in Indiana in transition to renewables
While the 2023 Indiana General Assembly is poised to enact some long overdue advancements to help keep the lights on, a perfect storm is looming that may leave Indiana in the dark.
Doehrmann, Wieg & Haughey: Working in a PFAS world: What you need to know
PFAS are almost ubiquitous in our environment, contained in such everyday items as food packaging, nonstick cookware, furniture coatings, carpeting, apparel, paints, soaps and personal care products.
Relue, Connor & Townsend: The future’s so bright (I gotta wear shades)
Indiana communities can now choose to become solar energy-ready communities under Indiana Code § 8-1-42.
Bill seeks to prevent federal takeover of Indiana air pollution program
Indiana’s air pollution permitting program is low on money, edging toward violation of the federal Clean Air Act — and a potential U.S. Environmental Protection Agency takeover. And it’s because air pollution is decreasing.
From class actions to classrooms: Ferraro adding teaching experience to resume as public interest attorney
Environmental law attorney Kim Ferraro might have only been half-joking when she claimed that if she had known at the start of her career what she knows now, she probably would have chosen a different practice area.