2024 Articles

2023 Environmental Statutes and Regulatory Amendments By William J. Anaya February 2024 Brief descriptions of new statutes, rules, and programs created by the Illinois General Assembly, the Office of the State Fire Marshall, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the Illinois Pollution Control Board, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 2023.

The 22nd Annual Environmental Law Conference: May 9 - 10, 2024 April 2024 An overview of the upcoming Environmental Law Conference, which will be held in Chicago from May 9-10.

Appellate Court Upholds Illinois Coal Ash Regulations By Michael P. Murphy May 2024 In March 2024, the appellate court upheld the rules governing coal ash ponds.

Become an Illinois Bar Foundation Champion By Jessica R. Durkin December 2024 At least twice a year at ISBA Annual and Midyear Meetings, we are pitched by colleagues and the Illinois Bar Foundation to become a “Champion.” But what is a Champion really, and what’s in it for us?

Chevron Reversed: Loper Bright Enterprises et al. v. Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce et al. – What Are Agencies, Litigants, and Courts to Do? By William J. Anaya & Mary C. Hofmann July 2024 In June, the United States Supreme Court overturned Chevron's analytical approach to statutory interpretation of ambiguous statutes in Loper Bright Enterprises et al. v. Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce et al.

Clean Water Act Jurisdiction: A Review of Sackett Cases One Year Later By Lisle A. Stalter & William J. Anaya April 2024 One year post Sackett et ux. v. Environmental Protection Agency, there were several significant decisions analyzing its applicability with differing interpretations.

Editor’s Note By William J. Anaya July 2024 An introduction to the issue from the editor.

Editor’s Note By William J. Anaya May 2024 An introduction to the issue from the editor.

EPA Officially Lists Key PFAS as ‘Hazardous Substances’ Under Superfund By Matthew A. Walker May 2024 On April 19, 2024, EPA issued its long-awaited final rule officially listing two key per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.

Illinois Establishes Solar and Wind Siting Standards; Counties on Short Timeframe to Comply By Adam Margolin, Kate Duncan, Chris Skey, & Elizabeth McErlean February 2024 The Illinois General Assembly recently enacted legislation that addresses county-level regulation over the siting and zoning of larger solar and wind projects.

Illinois Paves Way for Carbon Capture and Sequestration with SAFE CCS Act By Gabriel J. Salinas, Philip K. Lau, Ryan J. Silverman, & Juan Pablo Tablada Flores December 2024 Illinois has established a comprehensive regulatory framework for the development of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects. The state's legislature has passed Senate Bill 1289, also known as the SAFE CCS Act, which was signed into law on July 18, 2024. This groundbreaking legislation was the result of collaborative efforts among various stakeholders, including industry representatives, environmental groups, and labor organizations.

New Changes to the Illinois Radon Gas Awareness Act By Nicky Sonntag February 2024 The Illinois Radon Act will be substantially revised effective as of January 1, 2024, imposing additional obligations on landlords and providing additional rights to tenants.

PFAS Activity Reaches a Boil in April 2024 By Eric Berry May 2024 A summary of the three major April 2024 developments from the U.S. EPA regarding PFAS.

PFAS in the Headlines: June 2024 By Eric Berry July 2024 The PFAS scientific and legal landscape continues to change at a rapid pace, with new issues and developments affecting liability scenarios seemingly coming from all directions.

Things Once Old, May Be New Again, and Then Some By William J. Anaya December 2024 A look at President-Elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the United States Environmental Protection Agency: Lee Zeldin.

U.S. EPA Finalizes First-Ever Federal Enforceable Drinking Water Standard for Certain PFAS By Matthew A. Walker May 2024 In April 2024, the federal government set enforceable standards for any PFAS in drinking water for the first time.

U.S. EPA Releases Second Annual Progress Report on PFAS Strategic Roadmap By Andrea Quade & Michael Murphy April 2024 On December 14, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its Second Annual Progress Report summarizing updates on the Agency’s actions and goals to address per and polyfluoroalkyl substances

USEPA Methane Regulations By Craig R. Hedin May 2024 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized new rules expanding methane emissions regulations for the oil and natural gas industry.

USEPA Methane Regulations By Craig R. Hedin April 2024 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized new rules expanding methane emissions regulations for the oil and natural gas industry.

What Do We Mean by ESG? By Christopher P. Perzan December 2024 ESG stands for Environmental, Social, Governance. Easy enough, but not very enlightening. Whether it is ESG, sustainability, CSR, CSV, SDGs, or another term, this paradigm is ultimately broadly about a transparent process to understand the environmental and social impacts of an enterprise followed by a plan of action to address those impacts. This approach also allows a company to understand and address external or internal risks, identify potential opportunities, and inform strategic decisions.