Wetlands and Stormwater
Thirteen SPR Environmental Attorneys Recognized as “Super Lawyers”
SPR is proud that thirteen of its environmental lawyers have been recognized as “Super Lawyers” by the eponymous ratings service. Michael S. Bogin, Mark A. Chertok, Dan Chorost, John-Patrick Curran, Scott E. Furman, Jeffrey B. Gracer, Elizabeth Knauer, and David Yudelson were recognized as Super Lawyers in the environmental field. David Paget , Daniel Riesel and Kathy Robb were recognized…
New York State Submits Area Off Long Island to Federal Government for Potential Wind Leasing
This week, the New York State Energy Research and Development Agency (“NYSERDA”) officially submitted an area off the coast of Long Island, referred to as an Area for Consideration for the Potential Locating of Offshore Wind Energy Areas, to the federal government’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (“BOEM”). NYSERDA is proposing that BOEM consider identifying…
New York Court of Appeals Denies Exxon Mobil’s Motion to Appeal in Ongoing Climate Change Investigation by New York Attorney General
On September 12, 2017, the New York Court of Appeals denied Exxon Mobil’s motion for leave to appeal a decision of the Appellate Division, First Department, which had held that the accountant-client privilege is not recognized in New York and therefore does not protect documents held by PricewaterhouseCoopers (“PwC”), Exxon’s auditor, from subpoena by New…
David Paget’s Life and Career Featured in Super Lawyers Article
Super Lawyers magazine’s October 2017 issue features an in-depth profile of SPR founding partner David Paget. The article traces David’s steps from his childhood days growing up in the Lillian Wald Houses on the Lower East Side, to his first meeting with his wife Fay (when they were 16 and 14 years old), through his…
DEC Publishes Final Revised Solid Waste Management Regulations
After 18 months of public comment and revisions to its solid waste regulations, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“DEC”) has published the finalized version of the regulations, which will take effect on November 4, 2017. DEC’s solid waste management regulations – codified in 6 NYCRR Part 360 – govern the reuse, recycling, transportation, and…
New Executive Order Curbs Environmental Review and Permitting Process for Infrastructure
On August 15th, 2017, President Trump issued an Executive Order intended to hasten the approval of infrastructure projects by streamlining and reducing the duration of the environmental review and permitting process. The Order – which applies to transportation, energy production and transmission, broadband internet, water treatment, and other infrastructure projects – authorizes the White House…
Best Lawyers in America© Commends Seven SPR Attorneys
Seven Sive, Paget & Riesel lawyers have been recognized in the 2018 edition of Best Lawyers in America, a collection of distinguished attorneys in various practice areas who have been nominated for inclusion by their peers. Michael Bogin, Mark Chertok, Jeffrey Gracer, Elizabeth Knauer, David Paget, Daniel Riesel, and Kathy Robb are recognized for the…
Empire State Development Sells Former Arthur Kill Correctional Facility for Redevelopment as Film Studio
On August 7, 2017, Empire State Development (ESD) consummated the sale of State-owned surplus property on Staten Island formerly housing the Arthur Kill Correctional Facility to Broadway Stages, an owner and operator of film and television studios. SPR principal Elizabeth Knauer advised ESD with respect to the environmental review of the project pursuant to the…
State and Local Leaders Fight to Uphold America’s Paris Accord Climate Commitments with “America’s Pledge”
By: Zachary Berliner Last month, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and California Governor Jerry Brown launched “America’s Pledge,” an initiative which builds on recently-formed partnerships of American states, cities, and businesses committed to upholding the United States’ pledged greenhouse gas (“GHG”) reductions under the Paris climate agreement (including the “We Are Still In”…
Second Circuit Decision Provides States Latitude to Enact Renewable Energy Incentive Programs
On June 28, 2017, in Allco Finance Ltd. v. Klee, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit rejected two related challenges alleging that Connecticut programs pertaining to renewable energy generation violated federal law, bolstering states’ flexibility to craft renewable energy incentive programs. In doing so, the Second Circuit became the first federal court…