Events
January 24, 2024 at 8:00am
Westin Portland Harborview
Jonathan M. Dunitz, Tawny L. Alvarez, James I. Cohen, Rachel M. Wertheimer
September 14, 2023 at 7:00am – 9:00am
USM Hannaford Hall
James I. Cohen
Firm Highlights
Blog
Maine DEP Issues New Maine Construction General Permit
On January 14, 2025, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”) issued a new Maine Construction General Permit (“MCGP”). The new permit replaces the prior 2006 MCGP, which expired and had been administratively continued...
Blog
Governor Healey Enacts Transformative Clean Energy and Economic Development Laws: Streamlined Permitting, Equity Protections, and Extended Project Approvals
On November 20, 2024, Governor Maura Healey signed the Massachusetts Leads Act, engrossing House Bill 5100 (the “MA Leads Act”), which, among many funding provisions, contains two changes that will significantly benefit project developers...
Blog
Implications of Trump Executive Orders for Massachusetts Environmental Justice Programs
On the first day of his Presidency, among 26 other Executive Orders that day, Donald Trump issued his Unleashing American Energy Executive Order rescinding President Biden’s Executive Order 14096 of April 21, 2023 (Revitalizing...
Blog
Loper Bright and Massachusetts Environmental Law: Navigating the Boundaries of Federal and State Authority
While the SCOTUS’s Loper Bright Enterprises et al. (Loper) decision reversing Chevron was a win for those seeking to rein in the administrative state at the federal level, it does not sound the death...
Blog
Mitigating Impacts of Solar Development on High Value Agricultural Land
The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry issued final rules on Permitting Solar Energy Developments on High Value-Agricultural Land , with an effective date of April 20, 2025 (the “Rule”). The Rule implements...
Blog
Administrative Penalties Under Scrutiny: Jarkesy’s Potential Impact on EPA and Massachusetts Enforcement
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) often uses civil penalties to punish environmental violators. The EPA can either pursue a penalty through its internal administrative process or have the Justice Department file suit...
Blog
Maine Governor Mills To Tap Heather Sanborn of Portland as Next Public Advocate
On December 5, 2024, Governor Janet Mills announced her intent to nominate former state senator and representative Heather Sanborn to serve as the next Public Advocate of the State of Maine. Sanborn, of Portland...
Blog
Unwrapping Maine's Gift to the Environment: A New Packaging Stewardship Program Set to Launch in 2026
Beginning in May of 2026, [1] owners of brands selling packaged products and importers of foreign-produced packaged products sold in Maine will be required to adhere to Maine’s Stewardship Program for Packaging. [2] Beginning...
Blog
Balancing Local Control and State Mandates: The Implications of the MBTA Communities Act Ruling
The state’s highest court has affirmed the Legislature’s power to force towns to adopt denser, transit-friendly zoning. In 2021, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Communities Act (G. L. c. 40A, § 3A) amended...
Blog
Converting Risk to Reward in the Biosolids Industry
Despite having over 130 years of collective environmental law experience, Verrill’s environmental group is very cautious in making predictions about the future. But sometimes we identify a trend that seems so obvious that we...
