Environmental and Energy Law Update

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        by Peter M. Vetere on January 16, 2024

        There has been a joke for some time now that whenever MassDEP proposes new regulations, they must have finally developed the performance standard for...

        by Peter F. Durning on January 4, 2024

        An important understanding of any transaction, particularly in Massachusetts, is that the environmental laws generally impose status liability for...

        by Juliet T. Browne on December 11, 2023

        On December 7, the Maine Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) voted to post to public comment amendments to two Department of Environmental (DEP)...

        by James I. Cohen on December 4, 2023

        On November 3, 2023, the Maine Public Utilities Commission (the “Commission”) issued an Order adopting amendments to its Small Generator...

        by Peter F. Durning on November 30, 2023

        On Tuesday, November 28, 2023, Massachusetts released an updated version of the State Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adoption Plan, the...

        by Thomas A. Mackie on November 22, 2023

        When considering the establishment of an estate or trust to hold title to real property, it is important to segregate potentially contaminated...

        by Peter M. Vetere on November 16, 2023

        On September 1, 2023, MassDEP issued final amendments to the Massachusetts Contingency Plan (“MCP”), the regulations governing the cleanup of...

        by James I. Cohen on November 14, 2023

        Last Tuesday, by a margin of 70% to 30%, Maine voters rejected Question 3, the highest profile issue on the Maine ballot this year. Question 3 was...

        by Gail Magenau Hire on October 31, 2023

        On September 26, in time for the most bat-friendly month of the year (Halloween, here we come!), President Biden vetoed a bill that would have...

        by Gail Magenau Hire on October 19, 2023

        As we have been reporting in this blog, regulators are increasing their focus on the latest group of “forever chemicals.” This month, the U.S....

        by Thomas A. Mackie on October 12, 2023

        In The Graduate, Mr. McGuire pulls aside Benjamin Braddock, played by Dustin Hoffman, and utters “one word” of career advice – “plastics.”...

        by Peter M. Vetere on October 12, 2023

        After a summer of historic rainfall and flooding in Massachusetts, stormwater is on our minds. Stormwater is a major source of water pollution in the...

        October 6, 2023

        For nearly two years, Verrill partner Jim Cohen, who has been practicing energy and utilities law for more than three decades, has been traveling...

        by Gail Magenau Hire on September 7, 2023

        After Held v. Montana was decided, and I read Peter Vetere’s blog post, I’ve been thinking about the Massachusetts Constitution. Would...

        by Thomas A. Mackie on August 31, 2023

        In August, Governor Healey signed the FY 2024 budget legislation extending for five years until January 1, 2029, the Brownfields Tax Credit that was...

        by Peter M. Vetere on August 24, 2023

        Last week, in Held v. State of Montana, the First Judicial District Court of Lewis and Clark County issued a groundbreaking decision in favor of...

        by Peter F. Durning on August 10, 2023

        The American Water Works Association’s “Value of Water” social media campaign, including its No Water No Beer slogan, provides a stark wake-up...

        by Gail Magenau Hire on July 27, 2023

        New rules issued by MassDEP offer Cape Codders a choice for controlling nitrogen pollution. The problem is well-understood. When too much discharged...

        by Thomas A. Mackie on July 20, 2023

        Not everyone would make a connection between the recent Supreme Court affirmative action decision on college admissions and the Massachusetts...

        by Peter F. Durning on June 29, 2023

        As the movie studios begin to roll out their megahits for the summer, the big news last week in environmental law was the blockbuster $12 billion...

        by Gail Magenau Hire on June 8, 2023

        Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is gearing up for a massive regulatory effort aimed at reducing greenhouse gas...

        by Peter M. Vetere on June 1, 2023

        The United States Supreme Court decided last week in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency that a word does not mean what the dictionary,...

        by Thomas A. Mackie on June 1, 2023

        The Healey Administration has followed a well-traveled path in appointing Bonnie Heiple, a respected environmental and energy attorney from a large...

        by Gail Magenau Hire on April 27, 2023

        As Town Meeting season approaches for many towns across Massachusetts, citizens will vote on zoning articles that seek to address the affordable...

        by Thomas A. Mackie on April 20, 2023

        By now, we all are familiar with the furor over the derailment of chemical-laden rail tanker cars in East Palestine, Ohio. Locals understandably...

        by Maye C. Emlein on April 14, 2023

        Public Comment on the Federal Proposed Drinking Water Standards for Six PFAS Compounds On March 29, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency...

        by James I. Cohen on March 28, 2023

        On March 28, Governor Janet Mills nominated Carolyn “Carrie” Gilbert to serve a six-year term on the Maine Public Utilities Commission. For the...

        by Maye C. Emlein on March 17, 2023

        On March 14, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) announced a proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for...

        by Hans C. Eysenbach on March 15, 2023

        On February 17, 2023, Georgetown Broadband LLC (GBLLC) became the latest community broadband entity to receive pole attachment authorization from the...

        by James I. Cohen on March 7, 2023

        Maine wastewater treatment plants are currently facing intense challenges concerning disposal of their sewage sludge, also called “biosolids.”...

        About the Blog

        The Environmental and Energy Law Update blog provides an analysis and discussion of the most critical and timely legal issues and announcements in the environmental, natural resource, and energy sectors.

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        Verrill’s Natural Resources and Energy law practice group has a wealth of industry-leading experience in environmental and land-use permitting, public utility regulation, and complex energy infrastructure transactions.

        We established the Environmental and Energy Law Update to keep our clients, policymakers, industry professionals, and non-profit organizations informed of recent developments affecting the energy and natural resources sectors. Our goal is to provide carefully selected content, including analysis and discussion of the most critical and timely legal issues and announcements pertaining to the environment, natural resources, and energy.

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        Firm Highlights

        Alerts and Newsletters

        Maine’s New Employer Surveillance Law, 26 M.R.S. § 620-A

        Effective July 14, 2026 Maine employers that electronically monitor employees must comply with a new disclosure law effective July 14, 2026. Under...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Recognized by U.S. News as One of the Best Law Firms to Work for in 2026

        BOSTON, Mass., BANGOR and PORTLAND, Maine, GREENWICH and WESTPORT, Conn., – Verrill has been featured on U.S. News’ 2026 Best Companies to Work...
        Blog

        SECURE 2.0 Roth Catch-Up Rules and the 403(b) 15-Year Catch-Up: What Tax-Exempt Employers Need to Know

        Tax-exempt employers whose 403(b) plans offer catch-up contributions for participants age 50 and above should be well on their way to compliance with...
        Media Mentions

        Robert Keach Quoted in Law360 on SIMAD Summer Camp Bankruptcy Sale

        Verrill attorney Robert Keach was recently quoted in a Law360 article examining the Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings involving SIMAD Holdings and...
        Media Mentions

        Chris Tsouros Featured in Law360’s Coverage of Sports Real Estate Deals

        Verrill Partner Chris Tsouros was recently recognized in a Law360 article highlighting law firms involved in significant sports real estate projects...
        Blog

        What Maine’s New Employer Surveillance Law Means for Maine Employers

        Maine employers who monitor their workforce, whether through productivity software, GPS, call recording, or cameras, have a new compliance obligation...
        Blog

        Run Don’t Walk: The Implication of “While Supplies Last” Prize Promotions

        This month a big-chain grocery store has been offering daily mystery boxes during specific timed drops on a first-come, first-served basis, to users...
        Blog

        Maine’s Noncompete Statute is Reshaped for Health Care Workers: What You Need to Know

        Employers of individuals who are licensed under state law to perform, or provide, health care services in the State of Maine should be prepared for...
        Media Mentions

        Steven Davis Featured in the Environmental Business Journal

        Steven Davis, President of Verrill Strategic Consulting, was recently interviewed and featured in the Environmental Business Journal, Volume 39...
        Blog

        What is a Bonus for Purposes of ERISA?

        An ongoing dispute about a Department of Labor advisory opinion published last September raises a basic but unanswered question under the ERISA: What...
        Media Mentions

        Verrill Recognized by WMTW for Partnership Supporting Hunger Relief in Maine

        Verrill was recently featured in coverage by WMTW News 8 for its role in a collaborative effort to combat food insecurity across southern...
        Press Releases

        33 Verrill Attorneys, Across Four Offices, Recognized in the 2026 Chambers USA Guide

        BOSTON, Massachusetts, PORTLAND, Maine, WESTPORT, Connecticut, and WASHINGTON, D.C. – Verrill has been recognized as a Leading Firm in 14...