Entries by hazzmatt1

Texas Oil Company to pay $115,000 Civil Penalty to resolve violations of Oil Pollution Prevention Regulations

April 3, 2020 in /by

Agreement with Texas-based company resolves findings of non-compliance The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a proposed settlement with Citation Oil & Gas Corp. (Citation) of Houston, Texas, to resolve alleged violations of federal regulations intended to prevent oil pollution. The Clean Water Act violations pertain to oil spill prevention requirements and Spill Prevention, […]

Environmental Due Diligence Carries on, With Limitations, During the COVID-19 Pandemic

April 2, 2020 in , /by

Written by Michael A. Nesteroff, Lane Powell PC COVID-19 Resource Banks, borrowers and their supporting professionals, like everyone else, are having to adapt to the rapidly-changing circumstances surrounding COVID-19. With commercial and multi-family real estate, one of the more difficult issues is how to conduct a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment in order to qualify as […]

What can the Act of God Defence in Regulatory Offences tell us about Responding to the COVID 19 Crisis

April 2, 2020 in , , , /by

Written by Stanley Berger, Partner, Fogler Rubinoff In April 2008 water bodies in Alberta were frozen over and as a result, migratory birds were drawn to Syncrude’s open tailings ponds where over 1600 waterfowl died from exposure to bitumen. Syncrude was prosecuted under federal and provincial environmental laws for the adverse impacts of the tailings on migratory birds. The […]

Practical Tips for Managing Environmental Issues During the Coronavirus Pandemic

April 1, 2020 in , , , /by

Written by Sheila McCafferty Harvey and Reza Zarghamee, Pillsbury Law Due diligence and compliance challenges require flexible approaches and creative solutions. Practical Tips Regarding Due Diligence The COVID-19 pandemic already has created significant disruptions to daily business and governmental activities, as employees across industries have been encouraged to practice social distancing and work from home. Moreover, an […]

US Relaxation of Environmental Rules in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic – The Implications for Canada and Mexico

March 31, 2020 in , , , /by

Written by Joseph Castrilli, Counsel, Canadian Environmental Law Association In a move that has implications for international arrangements with Canada regarding protection of the North American environment, the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States, citing the coronavirus pandemic as its justification, has announced that it will temporarily not seek penalties against companies that violate […]

The importance of collaboration in countering CBRNe threats

March 31, 2020 in , , /by

Written by Steven Pike, Argon Electronics In what is a rapidly changing and increasingly challenging global environment, the importance of maintaining international cooperation in countering CBRNe threats has never been more crucial. The successful management of any form of cross-border hazard – be it biological, chemical, nuclear or otherwise – relies on targeted, sustained and collaborative action. […]

Who Pays When Remediation Goes Wrong? A U.S. Federal Court’s Evaluation of Contractor Liability

March 31, 2020 in , /by

Written by Michael S. Kettler, an Associate in the Environmental Law Practice of Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP, with offices in Morristown and Trenton, New Jersey; New York City; White Plains, New York; and Stamford, Connecticut  He may be reached at [email protected] or 973-451-8520. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”) has […]

A Call to Keep Workers Safer When Transferring Flammable and Combustible Liquids

March 30, 2020 in , , , , /by

Written by Nancy Westcott, President of GoatThroat Pumps Every day industrial workers transfer potentially hazardous chemicals, such as solvents, acetones, lubricants, cleansers, and acids, from large drums into smaller containers, or into machinery.  Traditionally, such potentially flammable or combustible liquids have been tipped and poured.  Today such spill-prone, VOC emitting methods are no longer considered […]