John Gardella was interviewed as a PFAS litigation, compliance and trend predicting expert for an article published recently in AM Best. The article examines many angles of risk and future losses for insurers from PFAS regulatory changes and the litigation to follow....
Environmental
Prop 65 Notices On PFAS Foretell Wave of Corporate Targeting
In the span of one week at the end of March 2021, the state of California issued three separate Prop 65 notices on PFAS that will add significant regulatory, compliance and litigation burdens on a wide array of business types. Important to note is that Prop 65...
PFAS In Landfills In MN Is Warning Alarm For Waste Management
We have previously written about the impact to waste management companies from ever-increasing scrutiny over PFAS issues in the media and scientific community, at the government level, and within litigation circles. A very recent notice out of Minnesota that almost...
PFAS Paper Mill Lawsuit In Maine Exposes Corporate Susceptibility
On March 5, 2021, a class action lawsuit was filed in Maine by residents of Fairfield, Maine, in which they allege that a paper mill company polluted residential land with PFAS, thereby devaluing the properties, exposing residents to risks of harm to their health, and...
PFAS Drinking Water Regulations: Full Steam Ahead Under Regan
For several months, we predicted that the Biden-Harris administration's nomination of Michael Regan to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would accelerate PFAS drinking water regulations. Last week, Mr. Regan was confirmed with bipartisan Senate support to...
PFAS Drinking Water Rules: One Step Closer To Final Rule
Yesterday, the EPA took two actions that move it much closer to issuing PFAS drinking water rules for two types of PFAS - PFOA and PFOS. We have predicted for some time that the U.S. could see PFAS drinking water regulations by the end of 2021, and that timetable...
“PFAS Blueprint” In MN May Be Blueprint For Other States
On February 10, 2021, Minnesota announced its "PFAS Blueprint", a 191 page aggressive plan with its stated goal being to "protect our communities and environment from [PFAS]." The detailed plan sets out a proposal to bolster regulations regarding PFAS through both...
PFAS Water Utility Lawsuit Shows An Increasing Trend
In the latest PFAS water utility lawsuit (PAWC Complaint - PFAS), the Pennsylvania-American Water Co. ("PAWC") sued numerous PFAS manufacturers over allegations that the companies knowingly or negligently allowed the contamination of the drinking water in the state of...
EPA PFAS Regulations: “PFAS A Priority” Says Incoming Administrator
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden's pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Michael Regan, underwent his confirmation hearing. His nomination received largely bi-partisan support, so it is expected that Mr. Regan will be confirmed as the new...
PFAS Air Emissions Regulations: NY Joins The Fray
On January 13, 2021, the state of New York, through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), became only the second state in the United States to regulate PFAS in air emissions. New York proposed a regulation on air emissions for...