Ground Rules: A Knauf Shaw Blog

Petroleum Spill Reporting
Melissa Valle
Reporting a petroleum spill in New York can be confusing and an overwhelming experience. There are numerous spill reporting requirements,…

Petroleum Case Law Update 2020
Melissa Valle
Each year, the Petroleum Spills Committee of the Environmental & Energy Law Section of the New York State Bar Association…

Special Permits Annulled For Failure To Comply With LWRP Law
Amy Kendall
On December 22, 2020, a court in Monroe County, New York annulled Special Permits issued in 2012 by the Village…

NY Adopts Regulations to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Cap by 30%
KnaufShaw
On December 1, 2020, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and New York State Energy Research and…

COVID-19 Response Efforts Lead to Negative Environmental Impacts
KnaufShaw
Shortly after the outbreak of COVID-19 researchers began looking into how environmental factors, such as heat and sunlight, influenced the…

State Supreme Court Annuls Town’s Spot Zoning
Jonathan Tantillo
A Court in Madison County has annulled a local law passed in 2019 by the Town of Lenox, New York…

Court Shuts Down Dakota Access Pipeline Pending Environmental Review
KnaufShaw
On July 6, 2020, a federal judge for the District of Columbia ordered that the Dakota Access Pipeline be emptied…

Public Service Commission Requests Comment on Community Host Benefit Program for Renewable Energy Projects
Dwight kanyuck
New York’s new renewable energy siting process requires renewable energy project developers provide a “host community benefit” to a municipality…

Restore Mother Nature Bond Act: Awaiting Voter Approval
KnaufShaw
On April 2nd, 2020, the Restore Mother Nature Bond Act was passed as part of the NYS 2020-2021 Budget. The…

New York legalizes e-bikes and e-scooters
Jonathan Tantillo
New York legalized the use of “e-bikes” and “e-scooters” as part of the newly passed state budget. The vehicles, termed…

Hydrofracking Ban Codified in New York
Amy Kendall
On April 3, 2020, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law a budget bill that codifies the State of…

New Renewable Energy Siting Process Passed Into Law Bypasses Community Engagement
Dwight kanyuck
The new renewable energy siting process proposed by Governor Cuomo was passed into law on April 3 as part of…