What is the Value of an Environmental Logo?
When the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) updated the Green Guides in October 2012, it specifically set forth its objections to the misuse of environmental certifications and seals of approval (or [...]
Pitfalls When Blogging About Green Products
In previous blogs I commented on the importance of having scientific data to support advertisements for green products. Compliance with FTC’s Green Guides should also be considered when using social [...]
Contamination Migrating from Building Structural Component not a Cercla ‘Disposal’
Scenario: a corporate property owner constructs a building, coats it with a previously unknown carcinogen and many years later the property and assets of the owner are purchased by a [...]
New Guide – The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
A new publication is available that reviews the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). RCRA is the principal Federal law governing the handling, recycling, labeling, testing and identification of solid [...]
Alert: Phase I ESA Changes
The “all appropriate inquiry” rules published by U.S. EPA will probably be updated by the end of the year to include a new standard for Phase I Assessments. The new [...]
Alert: Michigan’s Section 404 Wetland Program
On December 11, 2013, Region 5 of the U.S. EPA held a hearing on Michigan’s Section 404 Wetland Permitting Program. Interested parties still have time to submit written comments to [...]
The United States of Energy (Part 1)
Unless you’ve been living under a rock or in a cave for the past year you’ve probably heard that U.S. oil and gas production is going strong. In fact, it’s [...]
The United States of Energy (Part 2): Concerns in Michigan and the Great Lakes
In a prior post we highlighted the recent energy boom in the U.S. Like elsewhere, the increased attention to energy production has been felt here in Michigan but on a [...]
United States of Energy (Part 3) – Solar
In our prior posts on this topic we described the remarkable increase in U.S. oil and natural gas production. Another area that isn’t getting as much press but shouldn’t be [...]
Changes to Phase I Environmental Audits (Part I)
ASTM International, is a widely recognized standards development organization that, recently issued ASTM International E1527-13 Standard Practice for “Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process”. As we previously [...]
A Closer Look at ASTM E1527-13 ( Part II )
A review of EPA’s comments on its adoption of the ASTM E1527-13 standard provides some guidance as to EPA’s perspective on what constitutes a complete Phase I Environmental Site Assessment. [...]
Vapor Intrusion and the Audit Process ( Part III )
Given EPA’s approval of the ASTM E1527-13 standard for conducting Phase I audits, it is clear that there will be an increased focus upon assessing vapor intrusion as a pathway [...]
The Tronox Tale: Shell Corporations and Environmental Liabilities
The creation of an under-capitalized corporation is an oft used strategy for minimizing environmental risks. However, as many economists have said, “there’s no such thing as a free lunch”, and [...]
Potential Spillage in the Straits?
The Straits of Mackinac, the narrow waterway that connects Lake Huron to Lake Michigan is home to unparalleled iconic Michigan beauty: vistas of the Upper and Lower Peninsulas, the Mackinac [...]
Lake Erie and Phosphorous: Déjà Vu All Over Again
Ohio lawmakers tried to legislate away the dangerous algae blooms in June of this year, but it appears it was too late. News this week of Toledo’s drinking water woes [...]
Transitioning Away from LIBOR: What’s Next?
The transition away from LIBOR, the abbreviation for the London Interbank Offered Rate, has left many asking, what is next? LIBOR is set to be phased out at the end [...]
Year End Estate Tax Planning in 2020
IDEAS FOR THESE TRANSITIONAL TIMES As tax lawyers and estate planners, we see that there is a lot of uncertainty and speculation in the marketplace about what the estate and [...]
17 Attorneys at Dawda Mann Honored as 2020 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Seventeen attorneys at Dawda Mann have been named to the 2020 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists. Additionally, Edward Dawda and John Mucha have been recognized on the Michigan Top [...]
Suit results in change to brook trout regulation in the UP
Originally published in Michigan Trout Unlimited In November 2019, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission voted 3-2 to amend Fisheries Order 200.20 to reinstate a 10 brook trout daily bag limit [...]
The SECURE Act Makes Stretch IRAs Less Flexible
By Jeffrey D. Moss, Esq. On December 20, 2019, while you were finishing your holiday shopping, Congress passed the Setting Every Community Up For Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019. [...]
