Three recent rulings offer insight into the strict interpretation of insurance policies by the judiciary:
Sierra Recycling & Demolition Inc. v. Chartis Specialty Insurance Co., E.D. Cal. 1:11-cv-00500-AWI-MJS, 11/3/11:
A court in California recently held that insurance company Chartis owes coverage to its insured Sierra Recycling for injuries and environmental damage from the deposition of contaminated [...]
SGR Partner Andy Thompson has been selected to be a member of the class of 2012 of the Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership (IGEL).
IGEL is a leadership training program that partners with the Center for Ethics and Corporate Responsibility at Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business in order to build and sustain [...]
The Department of Energy (DOE) announced recently that buildings that meet 2010 energy efficiency standards use 18.5% less energy than structures using a previous standard.
DOE simulated 16 different building types of various sizes in 15 climate locations to analyze energy codes published by the American National Standards Institute/American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers [...]
Tags: ASHRAE, Energy Ace, Energy Efficiency, Standard 90.1, Wayne Robertson
Flights to Europe might just become a bit more expensive.
In an effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and the impact of climate change, since 2005, the European Union has enforced an Emissions Trading Scheme (“ETS”) to regulate the carbon emission from more than 11,000 utilities and manufacturers. In November 2008, the ETS was extended to [...]
Tags: airline carbon emissions, EU Regulation of Airline Emissions Begins, European Union Emissions Trading Scheme, regulation of airline industry
1) Panel Orders EPA to Delay Cross-State Emissions Rule
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency must delay implementing rules on interstate air pollution on Jan. 1, a federal court ruled, siding with electric power producers seeking to defeat the new regulations. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Appeals Court in Washington granted a request by electric power [...]
On December 21, 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled its Final Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) for Power Plants in what has been called one of the most important anti-pollution measures in recent memory by environmental groups and criticized by others who predict a strain on the nation’s power grid and lost [...]
Tags: EPA regulation power plants, Final Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, MATS
Insurers and insureds in Florida should check their liability insurance policies for absolute pollution exclusion language. If present, and if pollution liability is a possibility, insureds should explore the purchase of pollution liability coverage.
Earlier this year, the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit had occasion to interpret an absolute pollution exclusion clause [...]
Tags: Markel International Insurance Co. v. Florida West Covered RV & Boat Storage LLC, pollution exclusion clause, pollution insurance issues
1) EPA to Delay Proposing Oil Refinery Emissions Regulations
The Obama administration will miss a mid-December deadline to set rules limiting greenhouse gases from refineries, after failing to set standards for power-plant emissions and shelving tougher limits for ozone. Republicans and some Democrats in Congress have said the emission standards threaten the economy and are seeking [...]
Submitted by Waste Pro, Inc.
Waste Pro USA, Inc. takes great pride in not resting on its laurels. With the recent announcement of an investment of $100 million to begin converting its diesel truck fleet to that of a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fleet, Waste Pro continues its commitment to maintaining a “Blue Sky, Green Earth”. [...]
Tags: Inc., Waste Pro USA
Posted by Jessica Lee Reece (jreece@sgrlaw.com).
Potential lender liability for contamination of foreclosed properties has been known for decades, and has been addressed by specific provisions in the federal Superfund law, among others. Less well known, but potentially as significant, is the liability a lender can incur by foreclosing on property that is under development, under [...]
Tags: Clean Water Act, clean water act liability, lender liability, Liability on Foreclosed Property