Category: Environmental Law

In the United States, regulatory agencies and guidelines require remedial action in locations that are polluted by past industrial activity or a single environmental event. Site remediation is the process of removing surface water, groundwater, soil, or sediment that is polluted or contaminated to reduce the harmful impact to people, animals, and the environment. New …

Pesticides and insecticides are designed to kill pests, invasive species and protect agriculture and homes. Many such pesticides are generally safe to humans in smaller concentrations, such as those used in home extermination. However, in larger concentrations or extended exposure can be toxic and cause short and long-term health conditions. Children are the most vulnerable …

Toxic torts are a type of personal injury. These injuries occur after use of certain products which contain toxic chemicals, materials, or even radiation. Toxic torts cases often arise from a person’s exposure while working. How to Prove a Toxic Tort Claim? Even if you were exposed to toxic chemicals at work, you have to …

Bad air quality is a serious health threat both for short and long-term issues. Bad air can irritate your eyes, skin, and cause respiratory discomfort, especially if you have asthma. Long term exposure to bad air quality can reduce your lung function and increase your risk of lung cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary …

“Forever chemicals” is a commonly used term for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The term “forever chemicals” was coined because these chemicals are not readily degradable, so they never break down in the environment. PFAS have been found in American groundwater, drinking water, and soil. In a troublesome finding, studies from the CDC show that …

A brownfield refers to any piece of developed land that is not in use due to potential environmental contamination. Many brownfields are former industrial sites. A brownfield contains either known environmental hazards or is suspected of containing hazardous materials. That means it will be necessary to remove the waste to make a brownfield a viable …

Petroleum, or crude oil, is a fossil fuel found under land or ocean floors that is extracted and refined into products like gasoline, oils, diesel fuels, and kerosene. These are composed of petroleum hydrocarbon compounds that can cause problems if they leech into soil or drinking water. As these compounds are highly mobile, they transport …

Arsenic from rocks, soil, pesticides, and industrial pollution can seep into U.S. drinking water supplies. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) originally limited the public water system maximum contaminant level to 50 parts per billion (ppb), but in 2006, the EPA’s Final Arsenic rule lowered the limit to 10 ppb. In New Jersey, it is …

In 1976, the U.S. government established the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). This act gave the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to control the lifecycle of hazardous waste, including: Generation. Transportation. Treatment. Storage. Disposal. The RCRA was enacted because Congress recognized the risks inherent in safely managing large volumes of hazardous waste. They …

By Michael J. Faul, Jr. Esq. and Adam K. Gallagher, Esq. Risk management is increasingly a major concern that a business cannot ignore.  When tumultuous times such as the global pandemic happen, businesses and individuals look to their insurance policies for protection.  Insurance brokers and agents sell boilerplate “off the shelf” policies that are crafted …