Editor’s NoteBy William J. AnayaEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, September 2025A note from the Editor of the Environmental Law Section Council Newsletter regarding the current issue.
Illinois Expands General Jurisdiction Over Defendants in Toxic Tort CasesBy Michael P. MurphyEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, September 2025Updates to the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure require businesses to "consent" to general jurisdiction in toxic exposure cases as a cost of doing business in Illinois.
Illinois Increases Maximum Civil Penalties for Environmental ViolationsBy Melissa Brown & Michael ScottEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, September 2025A summary of the new legislation that increases the maximum civil penalty amounts for violations under the Illinois Environmental Protection Act.
Illinois Increases Maximum Civil Penalties for Environmental ViolationsBy Melissa Brown & Michael ScottCorporate Law Departments, September 2025A summary of the new legislation that increases the maximum civil penalty amounts for violations under the Illinois Environmental Protection Act.
Recent Legislation Affecting the Construction IndustryBy Samuel H. LevineConstruction Law, September 2025Learn more about 3 bills that will impact construction law, including amendments to the Home Repair and Remodeling Act Governing Attorneys Fees, the Illinois Receivership Act, and restrictions in the State Agency Retainage Act.
Streamlining Environmental Permitting Is Part of White House AI Action PlanBy Michael P. MurphyEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, September 2025The White House recently released its new AI Action Plan, which aims to accelerate AI innovation, build American infrastructure, and lead in international AI diplomacy and security. Learn more about the impacts of this Plan on environmental regulations.
Editor’s NoteBy William J. AnayaEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, August 2025A quick note from the Editor of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Newsletter.
Lawyers, Environmental Law, and Citizens in Turbulent TimesBy Kimberly WellsEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, August 2025A brief overview of the actions citizens can take to influence politics, particularly as it relates to environmental law and federal agencies.
Recent U.S. Supreme Court Decisions Impacting Environmental and Administrative LawBy William J. Anaya & Sophia BoothbyEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, August 2025The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has recently issued a series of decisions that have significantly reshaped the landscape of not only environmental law, but administrative law in general. Not satisfied with simply overruling the decades old Chevron deference, SCOTUS has imposed jurisdictional limits on agency action that reflect a broader trend curbing agency discretion and reinforcing judicial oversight.
Editors’ NoteBy William J. AnayaEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, July 2025A Note from the Editors of the Environmental Law Newsletter.
Environmental and Natural Resources Law Conference CollageEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, July 2025The ISBA Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section hosted the 23rd annual Environmental and Natural Resources Law Conference on May 22-23, 2025, at the IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Illinois General Assembly Passes Bill Banning Carbon Sequestration Near Mahomet AquiferBy John H. HendersonEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, July 2025The Illinois General Assembly has passed a bill banning carbon sequestration over, under, or through a “sole source aquifer.” SB 1723 passed the Senate by a vote of 55-0 on April 10 and passed the House by a vote of 91-19 on May 20. Upon signing by Governor Pritzker, the bill will become law. The Mahomet Aquifer is the only sole source aquifer in Illinois, and the bill applies only to carbon sequestration activities near that aquifer.
Illinois Has a “Climate Bank!” What Does It Do?Environmental and Natural Resources Law, July 2025The Illinois Climate Bank, created by the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, funds clean energy and climate projects across the state. It supports grid upgrades, solar for low-income communities, EV charging, energy efficiency loans, and small business financing. Backed by federal and state funds, the bank promotes job creation, emissions reduction, and energy equity. A second fund, the Clean Energy Jobs and Justice Fund, focuses on underserved communities, while rural areas benefit from the Green Bank for Rural America.
Illinois Joins Coalition Suing Trump Administration on Energy Executive OrderBy Craig R. HedinEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, July 2025On January 20, 2025, President Trump declared a national energy emergency to fast-track energy projects, citing unreliable energy supply. A coalition of 15 states sued, arguing the emergency is unjustified and the order unlawfully bypasses environmental laws, risking harm to people, wildlife, and state interests. The case may reach the Supreme Court.
Editor’s NoteBy William J. AnayaEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, March 2025Save the date for ISBA’s 23rd Annual Environmental Law Conference on Thursday, May 22, 2025 and Friday, May 23, 2025 and an introduction to the issue from the editor.
U.S. Senate Committee Unanimously Reports Brownfields Reauthorization LegislationBy Michael GalanoEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, March 2025The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) on Feb. 5, 2025, held a markup on the Brownfields Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S. 347), where the legislation was unanimously reported to the full Senate. To date, floor consideration has not been scheduled, and a U.S. House of Representatives companion measure has not yet been introduced in the 119th Congress.
What Is New in PFAS Remediation Technology?By Eric BerryEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, March 2025PFAS are found virtually everywhere, are highly durable, and are regulated at very low levels (parts per trillion) at both state and federal levels. This article discusses utilizing effective treatment technology to remediate PFAS.
Editor’s NoteBy William J. AnayaEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, January 2025An introduction to the issue from the editor.
Extended Producer Responsibility Laws in 2025By Sydney Weiss & Emily N. MasalskiEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, January 2025Extended Producer Responsibility laws represent a pivotal shift in environmental policy, encouraging producers to take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products, including post-consumer waste. EPR laws are designed to reduce landfill waste; promote recycling, composting, and use of post-consumer recycled content; and require manufacturers to address the environmental impact of their products. These laws require “producers” (typically defined as those who manufacture the package) to manage the collection, recycling, or disposal of products after they have reached the end of their useful lives, typically by financing recycling programs or implementing take-back programs.
Is PFAS the Next Asbestos?By Eric BerryEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, January 2025PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of thousands of chemicals manufactured since the 1940s for use in consumer products and industrial processes. This article presents an overview of the PFAS phenomenon.
Justice Is in the DoingBy Justice Michael B. HymanEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, January 2025A discouraged lawyer receives a visit from a special ghost of presidents past.
New Carbon Capture and Sequestration Act & CCS Project UpdateBy Laura HarmonEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, January 2025On July 18, 2024, Governor Pritzker signed SB1289 creating the Safety and Aid for the Environment in Carbon Capture and Sequestration, which addresses environmental and safety regulations, prohibition of the injection of CO2 for enhanced oil recovery, ownership of pore space, integration and unitization of pore space for CO2 sequestration before the IDNR.
Illinois Paves Way for Carbon Capture and Sequestration with SAFE CCS ActBy Gabriel J. Salinas, Philip K. Lau, Ryan J. Silverman, & Juan Pablo Tablada FloresEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, December 2024Illinois has established a comprehensive regulatory framework for the development of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects. The state's legislature has passed Senate Bill 1289, also known as the SAFE CCS Act, which was signed into law on July 18, 2024. This groundbreaking legislation was the result of collaborative efforts among various stakeholders, including industry representatives, environmental groups, and labor organizations.
Things Once Old, May Be New Again, and Then SomeBy William J. AnayaEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, December 2024A look at President-Elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the United States Environmental Protection Agency: Lee Zeldin.
What Do We Mean by ESG?By Christopher P. PerzanEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, December 2024ESG stands for Environmental, Social, Governance. Easy enough, but not very enlightening. Whether it is ESG, sustainability, CSR, CSV, SDGs, or another term, this paradigm is ultimately broadly about a transparent process to understand the environmental and social impacts of an enterprise followed by a plan of action to address those impacts. This approach also allows a company to understand and address external or internal risks, identify potential opportunities, and inform strategic decisions.
Editor’s NoteBy William J. AnayaEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, July 2024An introduction to the issue from the editor.
PFAS in the Headlines: June 2024By Eric BerryEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, July 2024The PFAS scientific and legal landscape continues to change at a rapid pace, with new issues and developments affecting liability scenarios seemingly coming from all directions.
