By Saira Rhodes on Posted in Climate Change,Energy,Environmental,UncategorizedOn May 6, the White House released the Third U.S. National Climate Assessment, the most authoritative and comprehensive source of scientific information to date about climate-change impacts across all U.S. regions and on critical sectors of the economy. The report, co-authored by VNF Partner, TC Richmond, is a key deliverable of President Obama’s Climate Action … Continue Reading
By Saira Rhodes on Posted in Climate Change,Development,EnvironmentalThe National Climate Assessment and Development Advisory Committee (NCADAC), of which VNFGD partner TC Richmond serves as Vice Chair, has concluded that the evidence for a changing climate has strengthened considerably since the last National Climate Assessment report written in 2009. Following extensive review by the National Academies of Sciences and by the public, this newly … Continue Reading
By Saira Rhodes on Posted in Climate Change,Development,Environmental,Land Use,Water LawOur Climate, Energy, & Air Update is intended as a general summary of major policy developments that we judge to be of interest to a broad range of our clients and friends. This month’s edition features discussion on the following: The D.C. Circuit invalidates the cellulosic biofuel volume requirements for the 2012 Renewable Fuel Standard … Continue Reading
By Duncan M. Greene on Posted in Climate Change,Development,EnvironmentalOn Nov. 27, 2012, Governor Gregoire’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Ocean Acidification released its report outlining recommended actions that Washington State can take in response to ocean acidification. These actions include advocating for a comprehensive strategy to reduce carbon emissions and reducing land-based contributors to acidification such as nitrogen pollution from farms, lawns, and urban … Continue Reading
By Duncan M. Greene on Posted in Climate Change,Environmental,Water LawWith the sheer volume of environmental litigation currently in progress that will impact the regulated community, Van Ness Feldman has developed an Environmental Appellate Litigation Tracking Tool which follows developments in the most significant federal appellate environmental cases in the areas of air quality, water quality, and waste. We aspire to update these litigation matrices … Continue Reading
By Duncan M. Greene on Posted in Climate Change,Development,Energy Efficiency/Sustainability,Environmental,Land UseThe Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which manages approximately 264 million acres of Federal lands around the country, has issued two draft documents in support of BLM’s recent push to expedite permitting of utility-scale solar power projects in six Southwestern states. One of the documents is a set of standard design criteria for solar projects, … Continue Reading
By Duncan M. Greene on Posted in Climate Change,Energy Efficiency/SustainabilityThe EPA has published the final version of its latest Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks, covering trends in domestic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and sequestration between 1990 and 2010. Despite trends to “Go Green,” the report found that U.S. emissions totaled 6,822 million metric tons CO2-equivalent in 2010, a 3.2% increase relative … Continue Reading
By Katie F. Cote, AICP on Posted in Climate Change,Environmental,Land UseThe Department of the Interior (DOI) has proposed to extend the duration of Endangered Species Act (ESA) “take” permits allowing for non-purposeful disturbance or harm to golden and bald eagles. If finalized, the rule would extend the term of such permits to thirty years, on the grounds that long-term authorizations are necessary for the financing … Continue Reading
By Shannon Angielski on Posted in Climate Change,Development,Energy Efficiency/Sustainability,Environmental,Land Use,MunicipalWe are pleased to announce the launch of our Federal Funding Resource Center – www.vnf.com/funding – an online information tool designed to inform our clients and friends about key energy-, environment-, and resource-related federal funding opportunities across a range of federal agencies including the Departments of Energy, Defense, Agriculture, and the Interior. The Federal Funding … Continue Reading
By T.C. Richmond on Posted in Climate Change,Development,Energy Efficiency/SustainabilityA comprehensive new report by the U.S. Green Building Council and University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning evaluates research on the likely impacts of climate change on the built environment, and identifies strategies for adapting to those impacts while upholding sustainable design principles. Among other things, the report notes that most buildings … Continue Reading
By molawrence on Posted in Climate Change,Development,Environmental,Land Use,MunicipalOn Thursday December 8, 2011, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) initiated the most recent installment in their ongoing effort to force FEMA to change the way it operates the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In 2004, NWF filed a prior suit against FEMA, asserting that FEMA had violated the Endangered Species Act (ESA) because … Continue Reading
By Jay P. Derr on Posted in Climate Change,Development,Environmental,Land Use,Municipal,Real Estate,Water LawGordonDerr is excited to announce that the firm is combining with Van Ness Feldman, a nationally and regionally recognized energy, environment, transportation, and natural resources law and public policy firm with offices in Seattle and Washington, DC. The combined firm will help a broad, national range of clients successfully navigate the next generation of real … Continue Reading
By Duncan M. Greene on Posted in Climate Change,Development,Growth Management Act,Land Use,Land Use PlanningThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) just released a report assessing the feasibility of incorporating climate change impacts into planning and decision-making for land preservation efforts by government agencies and nonprofit land trusts. The report reviewed existing decision-making processes for selected land protection programs and suggested strategies for better incorporating climate change into those processes. These … Continue Reading
By Adam W. Gravley on Posted in Climate Change,Development,Land Use,Water LawGordonDerr partner Adam Gravley discusses municipal water supply and ways in which cities can get creative to protect this resource in this month’s issue of Cityvision Magazine. Also featured, groundbreaking efforts by GordonDerr clients the City of Roslyn, LOTT Alliance, and Cascade Water Alliance. Dealing with water scarcity in an age of climate change represents yet … Continue Reading
By Saira Rhodes on Posted in Climate Change,Energy Efficiency/Sustainability,MunicipalColumbia Law School’s Center for Climate Change Law has prepared a first draft of a model small-scale solar-siting ordinance. The model ordinance offers a framework that can enable municipalities to implement and enforce the effective and efficient use of solar energy resources. The ordinance would govern all new solar energy systems of up to ten … Continue Reading
By Tadas A. Kisielius on Posted in Climate Change,Development,Environmental,Land UseWithout much fanfare, Ecology last month issued its internal guidance for analyzing impacts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during environmental review. This is the latest round in Ecology’s ongoing effort to identify the role of the State Environmental Policy Act (“SEPA”) in addressing GHG emissions and climate change. The guidance document represents Ecology’s effort to … Continue Reading
By Tadas A. Kisielius on Posted in Climate Change,Environmental,Land UseOn Wednesday, Montana’s Governor Brian Schweitzer arrived in Washington to meet with Washington Governor Chris Gregoire and Cowlitz County Commissioners in an effort to support a proposal to ship Montana coal destined for Asia through Washington State. Governor Schweitzer’s trip is garnering national attention and is the latest in a legal and policy battle that has … Continue Reading