Last-ditch EPA and Justice directives ease liability for coal-fired power plants, oil and coal producers and chemical manufacturers, but opponents will seek reversal next year
Firm claims agencies lack evidence to make it liable for estimated $100M cost to re-analyze risks in residential rebuild of controversial Superfund site; developer Lennar also sues to recoup costs
Agency finalizes streamlined New Source Review process for project adds to air emissions and coal ash storage mandates for power plants in site specific cases, despite environmental group concerns.
A new Water Resources Development Act, or WRDA, has made headway in Congress, most recently with House passage of a bill authorizing about $9 billion for Army Corps of Engineers flood and storm protection, environmental restoration and other projects.
But a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in April could make future remediation projects on private land near the defunct Superfund toxics site tougher to negotiate.
Revised final mandate removes 'co-benefits' of wider pollution improvements; utilities object, with big investments made and 21 state attorneys general had jointly opposed.
