In a February 24, 2009 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit remanded the national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for PM-2.5 (American Farm Bureau Federation v. EPA, No. 06-1410 [D.C. Cir. Feb. 24, 2009]).

Court Vacates Exemption From MACT Standards for Periods of Start-up, Shutdown, and Malfunction

In a December 19, 2008 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated an April 20, 2006 rulemaking that greatly diminished the regulatory significance of the start-up, shutdown, and malfunction plans required under 40 CFR Part 63 maximum achievable control technology standards (Sierra Club v. EPA, Number 02-1135 [D.C. Cir. Dec. 19, 2008]).

Recovery Act Provides Funds for Environmental Programs

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) on February 17, 2009, which provides $7.22 billion for projects and programs that are administered by EPA.

EPA’s Pattern of Administering CERCLA Section 106 Does Not Violate Due Process

On January 27, 2009, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that General Electric Company (GE) had not shown that EPA’s “pattern and practice” of administering CERCLA Section 106 violated constitutional due process (General Electric Co. v. EPA, No. 00-2855 [D.D.C. Jan. 27, 2009]).

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Bringing the Consumer Perspective to Reporting

Are consumers really concerned with companies’ environmental performance? Resoundingly "yes," according to a recent survey by applied marketing and research company Earthsense, LLC.

CLIMATE CHANGE

EPA to Require Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed that all major sources of US greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (about 13,000 facilities) file annual reports on their emissions.