Author Archives: Katherine O'Konski

GAO Report Finds that Climate Change Could Cost the Federal Government Billions; Alaska Governor Establishes State Climate Change Strategy

Posted on November 2, 2017 by Katherine O'Konski

In a September 2017 report, Climate Change: Information on Potential Economic Effects Could Help Guide Federal Efforts to Reduce Fiscal Exposure, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) studied the potential economic effects of climate change in order to help federal decision-makers … Continue reading →

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Maryland Suit Seeks Ozone Controls for Upwind Coal Plants under the Clean Air Act’s Good Neighbor Provision

Posted on September 28, 2017 by Katherine O'Konski

Yesterday, the State of Maryland filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland seeking an order requiring EPA to perform its non-discretionary duty to either approve or deny a petition submitted by the state on … Continue reading →

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EPA Moves to Hold Coal Ash Rule in Abeyance and to Continue Oral Argument

Posted on September 26, 2017 by Katherine O'Konski

Last week, EPA filed a motion asking the D.C. Circuit to postpone oral argument scheduled for October 17 in Utility Solid Waste Activities Group v. EPA, Docket No. 15-1219, the litigation surrounding its Coal Ash Rule.  EPA also moved to … Continue reading →

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Tenth Circuit Rejects “Perfect Substitution Assumption” in NEPA Analysis of Coal Leases

Posted on September 19, 2017 by Katherine O'Konski

On Friday, the Tenth Circuit issued a decision in WildEarth Guardians v. Bureau of Land Management, Docket No. 15-8109, rejecting the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) decision to approve four coal leases in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin (PRB) Region on … Continue reading →

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Fifth Circuit Grants EPA’s Request for Power Plant Effluent Rule to Remain in Abeyance

Posted on September 5, 2017 by Katherine O'Konski

On August 22, the Fifth Circuit issued an order granting EPA’s motion to sever and hold in abeyance all judicial proceedings in Southwestern Electric Power Co. v. EPA relating to certain provisions of the Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for … Continue reading →

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