On March 14th, U.S. EPA released its advanced pre-publication notice of proposed rulemaking which, if finalized, will establish for the first time national drinking water standards for PFAS under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SWDA). While many states have adopted
Ohio Environmental Law Blog
Insight & Commentary for the Business and Legal Community
The Ohio Environmental Law Blog, published by attorney Joseph Koncelik of Tucker Ellis LLP, focuses on environmental law issues in Ohio, including regulatory developments, brownfield redevelopment, wetland delineation, and state and federal environmental programs. The blog covers topics such as climate change, renewable energy, hazardous waste management, water pollution, and sustainability initiatives. It provides updates on state grant programs, EPA regulatory proposals, and legal interpretations affecting environmental compliance and land use in Ohio. The blog also discusses practical implications of environmental laws for businesses and developers, including permitting and remediation processes.
Latest from Ohio Environmental Law Blog - Page 2
Biden Administration Moves Forward with Phase 2 of NEPA Rule Revisions
On January 30, 2023, Phase 2 of the Biden Administration’s rule making revisions to Nation Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) were sent by the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Once OMB…
Final Round of Ohio Brownfield Grants Awarded
On December 16, 2022, Governor DeWine announced $88 million in grant funding for 123 brownfield remediation projects. This marks the third round of funding. Collectively, the three rounds of funding have resulted in a total of $341 million in grant…
U.S. EPA Endorses New ASTM Phase I Standard
On December 15, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule that endorses ASTM E1527-21 which provides a uniform standard for performing Phase I Environmental Assessments. The new rule will have an effective date of February 13,…
Understanding What is True and Not True when Closing a Facility in Ohio
In order to try to prevent major environmental issues at abandoned or closed factories, Ohio adopted a program known as the “Cessation of Regulated Operations” (CRO). While this program has been around since 1996, there are misconceptions among businesses…
Debate Over Cuyahoga County Jail Site Shows Stigma of Brownfields
Cuyahoga County has been engaged in a long search for a new jail. The preferred location is property on Transport Road, which was also the site of Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Refinery #1. A significant part of the controversy surrounds whether…
Game Changer- U.S. EPA Proposes to List PFOS and PFOA as “Hazardous Substances” Under CERCLA
The term “game changer” has been thrown around quite a bit with regard to EPA’s intention to list PFOS and PFOA as “hazardous substances” under CERCLA. The reason it is a game changer is that it will greatly simplify the…
Ohio Releases Guidelines for $500 Million in Funding for Brownfield and Demolition Programs
In July 2021, Ohio’s 2022-2023 budget allocated $500 million in new brownfield funding under various development programs: $350 million for the investigation, cleanup, and revitalization of brownfield sites and another $150 million for the demolition of vacant or abandoned commercial…
Biden Administration Accelerates Federal Regulation of PFAS
This week the Biden Administration released their PFAS Strategic Roadmap which sets forth ambitious action on regulation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) pollution, including targeted action with deadlines for eight different federal agencies. The EPA’s stated goal is to…
Deja Vue All Over Again- No Certainty on Federal Regulation of Waters of the United States
An Arizona federal court has vacated the Trump Administration’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR). In the case of Pasqua Yaqui Tribe v. EPA, No. CV-20-00266 , the Court ruled that the Trump Administration’s regulatory effort to define the scope of…