California Attorney General establishes Bureau of Environmental Justice, and industry should get prepared

[Source: Stoel Rives LLP] On February 22, 2018, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced that the Department of Justice is opening an environmental justice office within the environment Section: the Bureau of Environmental Justice (“Bureau”). “The Bureau’s mission will be to protect people and communities that endure a disproportionate share of environmental pollution and public Read More…

Paint companies could hand taxpayers the bill for hazardous lead paint cleanup under proposed California ballot measure

[Source: Los Angeles Times] A proposed November statewide ballot measure could allow three of the nation’s biggest paint companies to hand California taxpayers a bill for the cost of cleaning up health hazards caused by lead paint. The measure would place a $2-billion bond on the November ballot to fund the remediation of lead paint, Read More…

Residents seek to recall 3 Paramount councilmembers in wake of environmental crisis

[Source: Long Beach Press Telegram] Residents in Paramount are attempting to recall three elected leaders as the city continues to grapple with an environmental crisis after the discovery of elevated levels of hexavalent chromium in the air. Proponents expect to begin collecting signatures early this year in their effort to recall councilmembers Daryl Hofmeyer, Peggy Read More…

Scott Pruitt blocks scientists with EPA funding from serving as agency advisers

[Source: The Washington Post] The head of the Environmental Protection Agency upended the agency’s key advisory groups on Tuesday, announcing plans to jettison scientists who have received EPA grants. The move sets in motion a fundamental shift, one that could change the scientific and technical advice that historically has guided the agency as it crafts Read More…

Angry that Scott Pruitt pulls agents off of environmental investigations for his security detail?

[Source: Washington Examiner] Scott Pruitt is under fire, this time for trying to stay safe. Because the EPA chief requires 24/7 security, according to a new Washington Post report, the agency has pulled agents from environmental investigations to serve on his security detail. There is an obvious solution to this staffing problem. End the demonization Read More…