by Williams Cedar, LLC | Jun 14, 2024 | Environmental Law
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently announced a new proposed rule that would limit the use of n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), a chemical used for a number of industrial and commercial purposes. This chemical has been associated with a number of negative health effects, some of which are potentially fatal. The new rule is intended to protect both industrial workers who may be exposed to the chemical in the workplace, as well as consumers who might be exposed to it due to accidental contamination.
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by Williams Cedar, LLC | May 24, 2024 | Environmental Law
A Philadelphia jury has ruled in favor of a plaintiff who sued ExxonMobil for exposure to benzene and other carcinogens while he was working for them, which he said caused him to develop leukemia. The jury awarded him $725 million, one of the largest such verdicts awarded to a single plaintiff. ExxonMobil says it will appeal the verdict, calling it “irrational” and saying that they are reviewing their options for appeal.
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by Williams Cedar, LLC | May 10, 2024 | Environmental Law
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has introduced much stricter regulation of methylene chloride, a chemical commonly used as a solvent and paint stripper. The new regulation would prohibit its use for all consumer use, and heavily restrict its use in industrial and commercial settings. This is due to the serious health risks associated with the chemical, which the EPA has found “presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health under its conditions of use.”
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by Williams Cedar, LLC | Apr 26, 2024 | Environmental Law
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has officially designated two so-called “forever chemicals” as hazardous chemicals under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as the Superfund law. These chemicals, known as PFOA and PFOS, have been widely used for decades, resulting in significant environmental contamination. While this will not ban the use of such chemicals, it will allow the EPA to take exceptional steps to deal with environmental problems caused by PFOA and PFOS.
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by Williams Cedar, LLC | Apr 11, 2024 | Environmental Law
Gerald Williams, Partner, Williams Cedar LLC, says President Joe Biden’s action to lower the levels of “forever chemicals” to a bare minimum at which it can be measured will mean safer, cleaner drinking water for everyone and will force public water utilities to constantly maintain their infrastructure so that the water supply does not become tainted again.
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by Williams Cedar, LLC | Mar 1, 2024 | Environmental Law
The City of Chicago, IL, has filed a lawsuit against a number of major oil companies over the “catastrophic consequences” of global climate change. The suit alleges that the companies knew of the potential disastrous effects of climate change for decades, but deliberately hid this knowledge in order to bolster their profits. This has caused substantial damage to the city, in the form of extreme weather phenomena that are likely to harm Chicago and its residents for years to come.
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