Articles by David Shepardson and Clark Mindock

Norfolk Southern to Pay $15M Civil Penalty, Cleanup Costs Over 2023 Ohio Derailment

Norfolk Southern NSC.N agreed to pay a $15 million civil penalty and $57.1 million in past government cleanup costs on Thursday, as well as millions in future costs to resolve a U.S. government lawsuit over a 2023 train derailment in …

BASF to Pay $316 million to Settle PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Lawsuit

German chemical company BASF said on Tuesday it reached a $316.5 million settlement with some U.S. public water systems that claimed toxic “forever chemicals” in firefighting foam made by the company contaminated their water supplies. The money provided by the …

Oklahoma Judge Blocks State’s Anti-ESG Law

A judge in Oklahoma blocked a state law that prohibits state pension systems from investing with companies that limit investment in the oil and gas industry. Oklahoma County District Court Judge Sheila Stinson on Tuesday issued a temporary injunction blocking …

EPA Designates PFAS Chemicals as Superfund Hazardous Substances

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday designated a pair of widely used industrial chemicals as hazardous substances under the country’s Superfund program, accelerating a crackdown on toxic compounds known as “forever chemicals.” The rule will require companies to report …

Explainer: Limits on PFAS in Drinking Water Could Fuel Litigation

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized the first federal regulations on toxic “forever chemicals” in drinking water, setting tight limits that essentially require public water systems to all but eliminate their presence in American tap water. The highly anticipated …

Swiss Women Win Big in Landmark Climate Case. Where Do US Climate Cases Stand?

A landmark climate change ruling from the European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday found that the Swiss government had violated the human rights of its citizens by failing to do enough to combat climate change, in a case brought …

Challenges to SEC’s Climate Rules Sent to Appeals Court

A U.S. judicial panel on Thursday consolidated at least nine lawsuits challenging the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s new rules requiring public companies to report climate-related risks in a venue favored by Republican-led states and a business group. The St. …

US Appeals Court Temporarily Pauses SEC Climate Disclosure Rules

A U.S. appeals court on Friday temporarily paused new rules issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requiring public companies to report climate-related risks. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted a request from Liberty Energy …

Sierra Club Sues SEC for Weakening Climate Risk Disclosure Rules

A major environmental group has sued to challenge new rules issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission requiring public companies to report climate-related risks, arguing they do not go far enough to protect investors. The Sierra Club and the …

Republican-Led States Sue SEC Over Climate Risk Disclosure Rules

Ten Republican-led states have sued to challenge new federal rules that require U.S.-listed companies to report climate-related risks, a spokesperson for the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office said on Wednesday, hours after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved the …