Environmental and Sustainability Law Archives

Oct 2, 2017

States, Cities and Private Businesses Put U.S. Halfway to Paris Climate Accord Goal

Sustainable Earth & the Paris Climate Accord

According to a study released on September 25 by New Climate Institute and The Climate Group, efforts by states, cities and corporations to fight global warming have put the United States halfway toward its Paris Climate Accord goal even as President Donald Trump rolls back federal environmental efforts. The efforts by public and private leaders have put Greenhouse gases on track to fall 12-14% below 2005 levels over the next eight years. The study, which relied on data from the Carbon Disclosure Project, highlighted efforts by 22 states, 54 cities and 250 US-based businesses. The study found that, in the… Read more

Sep 25, 2017

Power Plants Get Two-Year Reprieve from Parts of Wastewater Discharge Rule

Power plants will not have to meet new limits until 2020 for toxic wastewater that comes from using air pollution control systems and transporting bottom furnace ash. The U.S. EPA announced that it was postponing by two years compliance dates that would be required for more than 1,000 power plants nationwide as it reconsiders how strictly it should limit those sources of wastewater. The postponement applies to Obama-era limits on wastewater generated by transporting bottom ash from scrubber units to capture sulfur dioxide emissions from the burning of petroleum coke and coal. Industry representatives have pushed for the extension of… Read more

Sep 13, 2017

SGR Congratulates Client, Cox Enterprises for their Water Conservation Initiatives at Manheim Georgia

Water Conservation: Spigot and Water Drop Illustration

The Georgia Water Coalition’s inaugural Clean 13 Report highlights extraordinary efforts on the part of businesses, industries, local governments, non-profits organizations, and individuals to protect the water and natural resources of Georgia. “Around the state, businesses and communities are making a difference for clean water,” said Joe Cook, advocacy and communication coordinator with Coosa River Basin Initiative, a Georgia Water Coalition member organization. “These may seem like small projects, affecting just an isolated area, but together they add up to big improvements for our water and communities.” SGR’s client, Cox Enterprises is being recognized for its water conservation initiatives at Manheim… Read more

Sep 5, 2017

SGR Partner Andy Thompson is scheduled to speak at Water Law Seminar on September 27, 2017

SGR Partner Andy Thompson is scheduled to speak on September 27, 2017 at a water law seminar for attorneys, engineers, and government employees. The seminar is entitled Water Law and Regulations and will occur at the Embassy Suites-Galleria, 2815 Akers Mill Road, Atlanta, GA 30339. Andy will address legal issues relating to groundwater including groundwater permitting and regulation, common law issues of groundwater usage, discharges to groundwater, and groundwater-related litigation. For more information about the seminar, click here.

Sep 5, 2017

Should You Evacuate Your Workplace During Hurricane Irma?

During your preparations for the oncoming Hurricane Irma, you may be trying to decide whether to leave some employees in place at your facility or to evacuate the entire workforce. The question may be asked, what does the law require? Like so many other questions during an emergency, the answer likely is: “good judgment.” There are no specific OSHA regulations requiring for employees to stay or evacuate during a hurricane. OSHA does, however, require that employers provide a safe workplace and working environment for employees. During a hurricane, that may mean evacuating employees from the facility in order to keep… Read more

Aug 28, 2017

EPA Proposes Revisions to Environmental Site Assessments for Timber Property

Tractor hauling timber on forestland property

On June 20, 2017, EPA published notice of its intent to take direct final action to amend the Standards and Practices for All Appropriate Inquiries (“AAI”) to reference ASTM International’s recently revised E2247-16, Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process for Forestland or Rural Property, and allow for its use to satisfy the statutory requirements for conducting AAI under CERCLA. The proposed amendment would update and replace the current reference to the 2008 ASTM Standard, E2247-08, in the AAI rule found in 40 CFR 312. The new rule was to become effective on September 18,… Read more

Aug 23, 2017

Georgia Federal Court Rules That CWA Applies to Groundwater Discharges

On May 12, 2017, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia issued a decision concluding that the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) applies to claims involving the discharge of pollutants to groundwater that it is hydrologically connected to surface waters. In Flint Riverkeeper, Inc. v. Southern Mills, Inc., the district court denied the defendant’s motion to dismiss the plaintiffs’ citizen suit alleging violations of the CWA as a result of discharges of industrial wastewater from a land application system (LAS) operated by the defendant dyeing and finishing facility in Molena, Georgia. The plaintiffs alleged, among other things,… Read more

Aug 16, 2017

Emory University Given MVP Award in Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge

City Illustration: Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge

SGR would like to commend our good client, Emory University as they were honored by Mayor Kasim Reed and the City of Atlanta in the Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge. The Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge invited both commercial businesses and nonprofits to commit to a 20% reduction in energy and water use by the year 2020. Emory was recognized for its commitment to energy and water conservation through the 2016-2017 year achieving reductions of up to 71% in energy usage and 92% in water usage in 35 buildings on its campuses. Emory was the only college/university in the metro Atlanta region… Read more

Aug 1, 2017

New EPA Water Infrastructure Finance Website Open

On July 26, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) opened a web-based portal to assist municipalities, counties, and communities in identifying grant, loan and other financial sources for infrastructure. Recent Safe Drinking Water Issues in Flint, Michigan and other communities involving lead in drinking water have increased focus on drinking water infrastructure needs and system investigation and replacement. EPA indicates that the Water Finance Clearinghouse has over $10 billion in water funding sources and over 550 resources to support local water infrastructure projects. Water Finance Clearinghouse consolidates and expands upon existing EPA-supported databases to create a one-stop-shop for all community water… Read more