Last month the U.S. Supreme Court restricted federal jurisdiction over filling and altering wetlands. See Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, No. 21-454 (U.S. May 25, 2023). The president promptly
Continue Reading Wetlands Regulation in Pennsylvania After ‘Sackett’ Ruling
I recently finished P. David Allen II’s and Susan Campbell’s new book Paper Valley: The Fight for the Fox River Cleanup (Wayne State Univ. Press 2023). Allen was a wildlife biologist in
Continue Reading Lessons from Someone Else’s Book About a Big Matter I Handled
The U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) is seeking public comments on new strategies to replace the 2007 Colorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and the Coordinated Operations for
Continue Reading Federal Government Continues Efforts to Reform Colorado River Operations
On May 22, 2023, the Lower Colorado Basin States comprised of California, Arizona, and Nevada agreed to voluntarily conserve three million acre-feet of water over the next three years. This
Continue Reading Lower Colorado Basin States’ Compromise on Water Conservation
The U.S. Supreme Court has sided with the Sacketts against the Environmental Protection Agency to narrow the Clean Water Act.
Continue Reading Supreme Court Issues Decision Sharply Limiting Clean Water Act Jurisdiction over Wetlands
The federal government recently has acted to address the effects of the “megadrought” in the western half of the United States. These steps include (1) allocation of historic funding amounts
Continue Reading The Federal Government’s Colorado River Rescue Efforts
On March 28, 2023, Mexico’s President presented to the Chamber of Representatives an initiative to amend several provisions of the Mining Law, the National Water Law, the General Law of
Continue Reading Mexico’s Initiative to Amend Mining Law, Related Environmental Law Provisions Regarding Mining and Water Concessions
On March 14, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) which, if finalized, would set enforceable limits, known as Maximum Contaminant
Continue Reading PFAS in Drinking Water: EPA Proposes Historic New Regulation
Building on the Department of the Interior’s August 2022 announcement addressing the ongoing “megadrought” crisis in the Western United States, and October 2022 announcement that provided new “drought resilience” and
Continue Reading U.S. Interior Department Initiates Actions to Protect Colorado River System, Reduce Deliveries
In light of the “worsening drought crises” and “critically low reservoir conditions” in the Western United States, on Aug. 16, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Interior (“Interior”) announced a
Continue Reading Interior Department Determines ‘Tier 2 Shortage Conditions’ on Colorado River Requiring Additional Water Delivery Cuts, Other Actions in 2023