We all know the federal government is hamstrung by partisan gridlock. Where once lawmakers recognized that passing legislation required that both parties end up being able to claim success, that no one got everything they wanted, and that progress was
Science, Law & the Environment
Emerging Topics in Environmental Law
Science, Law & the Environment, published by Northwest Resource Law, focuses on legal issues at the intersection of natural resources, environmental regulation, and land use in the Pacific Northwest. The blog covers topics such as environmental compliance, permitting, litigation related to natural resource management, and evolving regulatory frameworks. It addresses state and federal environmental policies, tribal treaty rights, climate change regulation including carbon taxes, and cleanup of contaminated sites. The blog also discusses the impact of political and administrative changes on environmental law and policy, with particular attention to Washington and Oregon state laws and EPA Region 10 activities.
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The View From The Pacific Northwest: What to Watch in Environmental Law and Policy Post-Inauguration, Part 3
By Doug Steding
The View From The Pacific Northwest: What to Watch in Environmental Law and Policy Post-Inauguration, Part 2
By Doug Steding
Note: this is part 2 of 3 in my series of how the new administration may impact environmental law and policy in the Pacific Northwest. For background, please see Part 1.
Tribal Relations
One of the key factors influencing…
The View From The Pacific Northwest: What to Watch in Environmental Law and Policy Post-Inauguration, Part 1
By Doug Steding
On Friday morning, I boarded a plane in Chicago and by the time I touched down in Seattle, Trump had been sworn into office. We’ve received a number of questions from clients and friends asking us how the regime change…
EPA Promulgates New Water Quality Standards for Toxics in Washington: Rejecting the Vast Majority of the Criteria Developed by the Washington Department of Ecology
By Doug Steding
If you have not yet seen the press, yesterday, EPA issued its final rule revising water quality standards for toxics in Washington. This finalizes the draft rule published more than a year ago, and comes on the heels of the…
Wherefore Art Thou, Fisher? U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Decides Not to List the Pacific Fisher
By Diane Meyers
On April 14, 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced that it would not list the Pacific Fisher under the Endangered Species Act. The fisher (Pekania pennant) is presently found in Southern Oregon, Northern California, and the Southern Sierra…
Breaking: Puget Soundkeeper and Others Sue EPA (Again) Alleging Failure to Adopt Water Quality Standards for Washington that Account for Higher Fish Consumption Rates
By Doug Steding
Earthjustice, representing a number of environmental groups, sued EPA on Friday alleging that EPA is in violation of the Clean Water Act because it has not finalized the draft rule it published back in September that set water quality standards for…
Breaking: EPA Issues Draft Rule Revising Washington’s Water Quality Standards for Toxics to Account for Higher Fish Consumption Rates
By Doug Steding
Yesterday, following quickly on the heels of Governor Inslee’s withdrawal of Washington’s version of the fish consumption rule, EPA released draft water quality standards for toxics for Washington. These standards, if adopted, are significantly more stringent than those Ecology had proposed.…
Back to the Drawing Board: What’s Next for the Fish Consumption Rule in Washington State?
By Doug Steding
I have written extensively on the efforts by the Washington Department of Ecology to revise Washington’s Water Quality Standards to account for a higher fish consumption rate. This summer was when we were supposed to see the final rule be…
Guest Post: Aspect Consulting’s Discussion of the Washington Department of Ecology’s Efforts to Update Its Water Quality Assessment for Freshwaters
This is another in the series of guest posts authored by the consultants we work with and trust. Owen Reese is a Water Resources Engineer at Aspect Consulting approached us and offered to provide Aspect’s perspective on Ecology’s efforts to…