On August 9, the California Supreme Court issued an important decision that will enhance the ability of policyholders to receive the full benefit of their insurance policies for long-tail environmental claims. Specifically, the Court adopted an “all-sums-with-stacking” rule that will allow policyholders to recover from insurers over multiple policy periods, effectively “stacking” their policy limits […]
On Monday, August 13, California’s Senate Appropriations Committee will conduct a further hearing on AB 972, a bill that would create a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” pending adoption of regulations by the Department of Conservation (DOC) and its Division of Oil, Gas & Geothermal Resources (DOG). As we previously reported here on the […]
The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) recently released a study entitled “Californians & the environment.” The study evaluated Californians’ perspective on a wide array of issues related to the environment, including presidential politics, global warming, energy policy, and hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.” It provides interesting insights on public awareness of, and attitudes about, fracking […]
California’s Department of Conservation (DOC) and its Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOG) recently conducted the seventh and final workshop in a series of public workshops designed to seek public input on the practice of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” in the state. The July 25 workshop was held at the California Environmental Protection […]
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently reached a settlement with four companies involved in the Montrose and Del Amo Superfund sites in Torrance, California. The nearly $15 million settlement will provide for the construction of a groundwater treatment system to remediate chemicals used in the manufacture of DDT and synthetic rubber over several decades. Once […]
Hinson Gravelle & Adair LLP attorney Eric Adair was featured in a July 13, 2012, story in the Pacific Coast Business Times. The interview of Mr. Adair, conducted by legal reporter Stephen Nellis, addressed the legal and environmental impacts of the practice of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” in California. With permission from the Business Times, […]
On July 25, the California Department of Conservation (DOC) and its Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOG) will conduct the seventh and final workshop in a series of public workshops designed to elicit public comment on the practice of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in California. Wednesday’s concluding workshop is scheduled to begin at 7:00 […]
A recent report issued by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), “Birth Defects in Kettleman City and Surrounding Areas 2009-2011 Update” (pdf), suggests a reversal in a perceived increase in birth defects observed in Kettleman City. In February 2010, the CDPH, in collaboration with the California Birth Defects Monitoring Program (CBDMP) and the Maternal, Child Adolescent Health […]
As we reported in early May, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced a proposed rule that would regulate the practice of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” on federal and native American lands. A copy of the proposed rule may be found here. The proposed rule would (1) require disclosure to the public of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing on […]
Hinson Gravelle & Adair LLP partner Eric Adair recently published a paper in the March 2012 California Water Law & Policy Reporter, in collaboration with Rebecca Akroyd of Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard. The paper discusses a 2009 Ninth Circuit decision, Tucson Herpetological Society v. Salazar, 566 F.3d 870 (9th Cir. 2009), and its progeny. From […]