Bick Law LLP is happy to announce Alan N. Bick has been recognized byThe Best Lawyers in Americaas a 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” in Environmental Law, Orange County.The Best Lawyers in Americapresents this award to a single lawyer in each practice area and geographic region each year. Mr. Bick continues to focus his 34 years of environmental law practice in the areas of water law; cost recovery actions under […] The post Bick Law LLP is happy to announce Alan N. Bick has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America as a 2025 appeared first on Bick Law LLP ..read more

SCOTUS Grants City and County of San Francisco’s Petition for Writ of Mandate On May 28, 2024 the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to take up the issue of whether the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has authority to establish narrative effluent limitations under the Clean Water Act (“CWA”). After the Ninth Circuit answered this question affirmatively in favor of the EPA, the City and County of San Francisco (“San […] The post SCOTUS Agrees to Review EPA’s Authority to Issue Narrative Effluent Limitations under the Clean Water Act appeared first on Bick Law LLP ..read more

On April 19, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) finalized a new rule designating two widely used per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) chemicals—perfluorooctanoic acid (“PFOA”) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (“PFOS”), including their salts and structural isomers—as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA” or “Superfund”). The post EPA Designates Two PFAS Chemicals as CERCLA Hazardous Substances appeared first on Bick Law LLP ..read more

On April 10, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issued its first-ever regulatory drinking water limits on per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”), or “forever chemicals,” under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (“SDWA”). By requiring purveyors of public drinking water to reduce PFAS concentrations, EPA hopes to decrease PFAS exposure for approximately 100 million people. Background on PFAS PFAS have been widely used since the 1940s in industry and consumer […] The post EPA Sets First Federal PFAS Drinking Water Standards appeared first on Bick Law LLP ..read more

As of September, co-founder and managing partner at Bick Law LLP, Kimberly Leue Bick, will be assuming the role of Chair of the Environmental Law Section (ELS) of the California Lawyers Association (CLA). Kim is joined in her new position by fellow officers, Mary Akens (Vice Chair), Miles Hogan (Secretary), and Samir Abdelnour (Treasurer). CLA was founded in 2018 as result of Senate Bill 36, which separated the voluntary educational, […] The post Kimberly Bick Named Chair for Environmental Law Section of California Lawyers Association appeared first on Bick Law LLP ..read more

Following the commission of the Coal leasing Amendments Act of 1976, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was entrusted with the obligation of overseeing the operations of coal leasing: the process through which the rights to extract coal from federal lands are negotiated with the highest bidder. BLM is obligated to lease coal at a fair market value, as well as competitively, meaning that any interested party can bid on […] The post Montana Judge Reinstates Formerly Defunct Ban on Coal-Leasing appeared first on Bick Law LLP ..read more

The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) serves as the nation’s headmost legislation pertaining to flood control, navigation, and ecosystem restoration of the country’s waterways. Developed in 1986 as a means for establishing necessary water infrastructure – dams and canals – the WRDA operates under a biennial timeframe, allowing Congress to apply necessary adjustments every two years. In accordance with this system, 2022 is the year to reassess WRDA legislation, and […] The post Senate Approves Bill to Fund Restoration of Freshwater Systems   appeared first on Bick Law LLP ..read more

Amidst a series of incursions and roadblocks for environmental groups throughout the nation, most recently through EPA constraints executed by the Supreme Court, California has once again demonstrated its commitment as a pioneer in tackling climate issues at the source. On the very same day that the United States Supreme Court released its decision regarding West Virginia v. EPA – a significant ruling that seeks to constrain the Environmental Protection […] The post Cal. Governor Newsome Signs Cutting-Edge Plastics Bill into Law appeared first on Bick Law LLP ..read more

The oceans of the world, which makeup over 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, contain approximately 97 percent of the planet’s water. The remaining 3 percent, which humans, animals and vegetation rely upon for drinking and agriculture, can be found within the rivers and lakes that constitute freshwater. As global temperatures continue to give rise to drought and dehydration, the pressure to access suitable freshwater for land-based ecosystems also increases. […] The post Orange County Votes to Deny Construction of Desalination Facility appeared first on Bick Law LLP ..read more

The Environmental Protection Agency was met with a lawsuit in early May from a collection of Republican-led states over its decision to restore the Clean Air Act waiver for California. This waiver, which was reinstated in March of 2022, permits California to set its own standards for emissions regarding vehicles. California has faced long-term struggles with smog and air pollution, and for many, the waiver was perceived as a step […] The post Lawsuit Against EPA Follows Newly Reinstated California Waiver appeared first on Bick Law LLP ..read more