Consent decrees take center stage in two high profile environmental cases

Consent decrees are settlement agreements among litigating parties that are sanctioned by and entered as orders of the court.  By any measure, last week was an important week for consent decrees in environmental litigation.  On Monday, over the objections of several intervening … Continue reading

When a letter isn’t just a letter: Eighth Circuit vacates EPA rules on mixing zones and blending

Early last week, in Iowa League of Cities v. EPA, No. 11-3412 (8th Cir.), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit determined that two letters from EPA to Senator Charles Grassley regarding water treatment processes at municipal sewage treatment plants, … Continue reading