Law Columbia

APRIL 10, 2025

This follows a decade of record-breaking temperatures, with the World Meteorological Organization concluding that the past ten years 2025-2024 are the ten warmest years on record. A new Sabin Center report explores the laws governing seaweed cultivation and sinking for CDR in Alaska. o C above pre-industrial levels.

Carbon Dioxide

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 21, 2024

And it’s not just California: Battery-powered car sales are up globally , with projections showing 17 million will be sold worldwide in 2024. UCLA Law students in the California Environmental Legislation Clinic were fortunate to get to do some research work to assist in the development of the bill.)

Waste

Law Columbia

MARCH 27, 2025

City of New York , plumbing and building trade groups challenged New York Citys Local Law 154 of 2021 , a piece of legislation that prohibits fossil fuel combustion in most new buildings. This blog post discusses Local Law 154, unpacks Judge Abrams decision, and ends with a refresher on California Restaurant Association v.

Law

PA Environment Daily

OCTOBER 25, 2024

The IFO projects another $100 million drop in revenue in calendar year 2024 fee revenue from 2022 to $170 million. As of October 18, DEP received 408 shale gas permit applications in the first 42 weeks of 2024. million to ensure compliance with state environmental laws and regulations. Read more here.

Natural Gas

PA Environment Daily

NOVEMBER 25, 2024

These penalties are in addition to a $670,000 civil penalty DEP accessed against Shell Falcon Pipeline and its contractor Minnesota Limited LLC for violations of its permit and other laws and regulations that occurred in 2019 and 2020 during pipeline construction. Read more here. Read more here. Read more here. Decrease To 31.2%

Law

Law Columbia

MARCH 10, 2025

The UNGA requested the ICJ render an opinion on the following questions: (a) What are the obligations of States under international law to ensure the protection of the climate system and other parts of the environment from anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gasses (GHG) for States and for present and future generations?

Climate Change

Legal Planet

FEBRUARY 24, 2025

Although the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) has existing regulations intended to control fugitive dust emissions, outdated dust mitigation measures and inconsistent enforcement have left communities like Sun Valley without adequate protection. We look forward to this bill heading to committee after 30 days.

Recycling

Law Columbia

JANUARY 21, 2025

Today, the Sabin Center published a report that looks back on climate litigation developments since the beginning of 2024. It begins with a brief overview of the growth in climate litigation in 2024. Read the 2024 report here.

2024

PA Environment Daily

DECEMBER 5, 2024

He will describe how the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, new programs have been established to inventory and properly close orphaned wells. The law allocates $4.7 billion for plugging, remediation, and restoration activities on federal, Tribal, state, and private lands.

Natural Gas

PA Environment Daily

DECEMBER 3, 2024

"Based on futures contracts for December, the IFO projects that the average Henry Hub spot price for 2024 will barely exceed $2.25, the cut off for the lowest [Act 13] Impact Fee schedule. In June, the IFO projected another drop in Act 13 impact revenue of $114 million to from $165 to $170 million for calendar year 2024.

Natural Gas

PA Environment Daily

OCTOBER 19, 2024

The original violations for abandonment were issued on August 16, 2024 and the well owner failed to permanently plug the wells and stop the gas leaks. DEP’s inspection reports [ example ] requested the well owner to again submit a plan by November 10, 2024 on how the wells will be brought into compliance. Read more here.

2019

Law Columbia

MAY 23, 2025

As such, although EU and EEA law are distinct, their substance is identical with respect to the core rules of the internal market. In this sense, the EFTA Court also provides for an authoritative judicial clarification of EU law. The EEA Agreement aims to extend the core of the EU internal market to EEA/EFTA States (art.

Fossil Fuels

PA Environment Daily

DECEMBER 4, 2024

By Ken Sansone and Valentina Marastoni-Bieser, SL Environmental Law Firm Farmers, the backbone of our food supply, could be facing an invisible enemy that lurks in their soil and water: PFAS, the so-called “forever chemicals.” Tighter regulations for PFAS in food products could also become a reality.

Regulations

Law Columbia

MARCH 12, 2025

Part 1 focused on discussions on applicable law, and the no-harm rule. Vanuatu and the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) asserted that these legal consequences are governed by the general law of State responsibility. The International Tribunal for the Law of the Seas (ITLOS) published its advisory opinion in May 2024.

Climate Change

Law Columbia

DECEMBER 23, 2024

Last Friday, December 20, 2024, the Sabin Center submitted an amicus brief to the New York State Court of Appeals the states highest court in support of the City of New York in Glen Oaks Village Owners, Inc., City of New York began in 2022, when a group of cooperative apartment owners filed suit seeking to invalidate Local Law 97.

Law

PA Environment Daily

JUNE 12, 2025

3,108+ Abandoned Conventional Wells DEP reported 3,108 conventional wells were cited for abandonment in the eight years between January 2017 and December 2024-- only 17% appeared to be abandoned prior to January 2017. 2,070 conventional wells-- 66% of those abandoned wells were not required to have a well plugging bond by law.

Waste

Law Columbia

APRIL 10, 2025

We are proud to welcome Andy Fitch, who joined the Sabin Center as a Climate Finance and Regulation Fellow in April 2025. His work covers intersections of ESG and antitrust law with sustainability and climate-resiliency goals. from Columbia Law School in 2024. He earned a J.D.

Regulations

PA Environment Daily

NOVEMBER 8, 2024

The legislation would prohibit municipalities from receiving Act 13 drilling impact fees if they set protective standards on the development of natural gas that “imposes a standard or condition on well development that conflicts with or exceeds those contained” in state law. In May 2024, Sen. Cecil Township is in Sen. Read more here.

Natural Gas

Law Columbia

OCTOBER 16, 2024

Recognizing this, federal and state bodies have adopted a number of laws and regulations aimed at ensuring geologic carbon storage proceeds in a safe and responsible way. A number of new state laws focused on geologic carbon storage have been enacted in 2024. Several states are stepping up to the plate.

Carbon Dioxide

National Law Center

JULY 29, 2025

Additionally, the Supreme Court found that when considering whether an agency’s NEPA report complies with the law, reviewing courts should grant “substantial deference” to the agency. National Environmental Policy Act NEPA was signed into law on January 1, 1970. More information on that is available here. Infrastructure Coal.

2013

Law Columbia

MAY 30, 2025

Last Thursday, May 22, the New York State Court of Appeals the States highest court issued a decision upholding New York Citys Local Law 97 of 2019. Local Law 97 is one of the countrys most ambitious municipal climate policies, requiring the Citys largest buildings to comply with increasingly stringent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions limits.

Law

Law Columbia

OCTOBER 25, 2024

Even if the resolution is adopted, it would not be binding in the same way as a formal international agreement, but it could still impact how countries regulate marine CDR. But in-ocean research could implicate various international and domestic laws that might affect whether, when, where, and how projects take place.

Carbon Dioxide

PA Environment Daily

NOVEMBER 28, 2024

On May 21, 2024, CNX notified DEP of a spill related to the McQuay to Morris 2 and 3 shale gas wastewater pipeline, as reported in PA Environment Digest. In a June 21, 2024 response to DEP’s May 21 inspection report , CNX included a timeline of actions related to the incident that were known up until that time.

Natural Gas

PA Environment Daily

OCTOBER 25, 2024

Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments. -- The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the October 26, 2024 PA Bulletin extending the three Air Quality Permits needed for the temporary operation of the Shell Petrochemical Plant in Beaver County until a full Title V Air Quality Permit can be put in place. (

2024

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 26, 2025

This is why the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s historic investments provided a long overdue federal commitment to improving and protecting water quality (and why current threats to it and the agencies like EPA administering funds are so misguided). Upgrading infrastructure is expensive!

Clean Water Act

Circle of Blue

MAY 20, 2025

In April 2024, Amazon announced plans to develop around $11 billion worth of data center facilities about 20 miles from Lake Michigan in New Carlisle, Indiana. In 2024, the Joyce Foundation examined groundwater governance in the U.S. Thats the equivalent of 15,000 Olympic size swimming pools filled with water at each data center.

Cooling

PA Environment Daily

OCTOBER 17, 2024

Butler County [Posted: October 17, 2024] PA Environment Digest Bartolotta, Sen. 16 [PaEN] -- Evangelical Environmental Network Delivers Over 36,000 Comments From Pro-Life Christians To Gov. Million Settlement Over 2019 South Philly Refinery Explosion, Fire -- AP: EPA Reaches $4.2

Toxic Substances Control Act

PA Environment Daily

APRIL 1, 2025

Background In March 2024 EPA finalized a federal rule to reduce emissions of methane and other pollution from oil and natural gas operations and related actions-- Reducing Emissions of Methane and Other Pollution from Oil and Natural Gas Operations (40 CFR Part 60, Subparts OOOOb and OOOOc). Read more here.

Regulations

PA Environment Daily

JUNE 13, 2025

Shapiro [PaEN] Lead Counsel On Court Cases Striking Down Provisions In Act 13 To Preempt Local Regulation Of Oil & Gas Operations Raises Concerns About Proposed Legislation Establishing A RESET Board To Site Large Energy Projects [PaEN] Gov. Shapiro Announces Amazon Plans To Invest $20 Billion In Pennsylvania For A.I.

Fossil Fuels

PA Environment Daily

APRIL 8, 2025

This proposed regulation is narrowly drafted. Industries claim that this Board lacks the authority to act on this petition is not supported by these laws. The [state] Oil and Gas Act, Clean Streams Law and Air Pollution Control Act give EQB the authority and mandate to promulgate regulations to protect health and the environment.

Natural Gas

Law Columbia

OCTOBER 29, 2024

Indeed, utilities and regulators often cite the possibility that the customer requesting the clean energy product could instead use less electricity than planned or cease operations altogether, leaving the utility with a long-term obligation to purchase premium clean energy products, the costs of which would be spread across all customers.

Clean Energy

Law Columbia

JULY 21, 2025

These and other challenges were highlighted during an event hosted by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law on May 12, 2025. The CLCPA had also set a target of installing 6 gigawatts (GW) of distributed solar by 2025, which the state achieved ahead of schedule at the end of 2024. It’s not all bad news, though.

Renewable Energy

Vermont Law

FEBRUARY 19, 2025

The lax state regulations allow CAFOs to dump phosphorus into waterways, resulting in water quality issues such as cyanobacteria blooms in Lake Champlain. Vermont Law School cited numerous concerns with how ANR issued and enforced discharge permits to prevent water pollution. and Masters in Environmental Law and Policy.

Clean Water Act

National Law Center

AUGUST 12, 2025

No dicamba pesticide has been available for “over-the-top” use since 2024 after a federal court in Arizona overturned the registered labels for three dicamba pesticides, XtendiMax, Engenia, and Tavium. FIFRA is the primary federal law regulating pesticide use in the United States. 136a(c)(5)(C).

Endangered Species Act

Law Columbia

DECEMBER 20, 2024

On December 6, 2024, two local governments finally fought back in court. If successful, the effort would represent the first time a states preemption law on natural gas restrictions for buildings was overturned or repealed for any reason, litigation included. It’s worth noting how I-2066 differs from other states preemption laws.

Natural Gas

Law Columbia

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

What will happen to the SEC’s March 2024 climate disclosure rule under the new federal administration? A paper published by Columbia University’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) seeks to contribute to the upcoming debates on this question.

Climate Change

PA Environment Daily

NOVEMBER 25, 2024

On November 21, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has determined , in response to a rulemaking petition, the state Environmental Quality Board has the statutory authority to adopt a regulation setting more protective setbacks from shale gas wells for homes, schools and streams in its initial petition review.

Natural Gas