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PFAS Concerns Mounting for Cities and Towns as MassDEP Proposes Maximum Contaminant Level in Drinking Water
Many of our readers will be aware that on December 27, 2019, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) proposed a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for PFAS in drinking water of 20 parts per trillion (0.02 ug/L or ppt) for six PFAS … Continue reading
BREAKING: MassDEP Announces Proposed Revisions to the Massachusetts Contingency Plan, Including a Reportable Concentration for PFAS at 20 ppt
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) announced proposed revisions to the Massachusetts Contingency Plan (310 CMR 40.0000). This begins a 3-month public comment period that will end July 19, 2019, and will include four public hearings. According to MassDEP, … Continue reading
Short-Term Rental Law Takes Effect July 1st
Governor Baker recently signed “An Act Regulating and Insuring Short-Term Rentals”, imposing new taxes, registration and inspection requirements, and other rules governing the short-term rental of homes and residential units through Airbnb, VRBO, and similar platforms. Overview: The new law … Continue reading
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A Landfill Is Not a “Point Source” Under the Clean Water Act, So Says the 4th Circuit and D.Mass.
Two recent rulings address the issue of whether a landfill is a “point source” under the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq. (CWA), Sierra Club v. Virginia Electric et al and Toxics Action Center et al v. … Continue reading
The New Massachusetts Clean Energy Bill: Solar Advocates Left Waiting for the Next Installment
On July 31, 2018, the final day of its formal session, the Massachusetts legislature passed H. 4857, An Act to Advance Clean Energy, which Governor Baker signed into law on August 9. The bill represents several important steps forward in … Continue reading
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Zoning Appeal Plaintiff Must Prove Standing, Even if Defendant Town Does Not Contest Issue at Trial
On Tuesday, the Appeals Court issued its opinion in Talmo v. Zoning Board of Appeals of Framingham. Massachusetts suffers no shortage of case law on standing (the right to file suit) in zoning appeals. In this case, the issue was … Continue reading
Posted in MetroWest, Uncategorized, Zoning
Tagged Framingham, Hon. Howard Speicher, Massachusetts Appeals Court, standing
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(Reluctantly) Open for Business: Momentum Gathering for Expanded Use of Continuous Operations Clauses
Two recent court decisions may embolden commercial landlords to use a familiar lease provision in an unusual way when responding to tenants seeking to close their business operations before the end of the lease term. Continuous operations clauses are common … Continue reading
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Massachusetts High Court Recognizes Employee Right of Qualified Medical Marijuana Users To Allege Handicap Discrimination For Off-Site Use of Medicinal Marijuana
Originally posted on offtheclockemploymentblog:
In a long-awaited decision, the highest court in Massachusetts – the Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) – ruled today in Cristina Barbuto v. Advantage Sales & Marketing, LLC, et al. that an employee who used medical marijuana…
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What Does It Mean To Purchase An Additional Insured Endorsement?
In the construction industry, it is standard for ‘upstream’ parties to require ‘downstream’ parties to purchase and maintain general liability insurance coverage, at varying limits, and to obtain an endorsement adding all or most ‘upstream’ parties as ‘additional insureds’ under … Continue reading
Posted in Construction, Contracts, Uncategorized, Utilities
Tagged Construction, Contracts
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Deadline for Owners of Single Wall Steel Tanks Looming
by Joseph S. Campisi, President, Corporate Environmental Advisors, Inc. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (“MassDEP”) promulgated underground storage tank (UST) regulations on January 2, 2015 that replaced the Massachusetts Department of Fire Service (“DFS”) regulations at 527 CMR 9.00. … Continue reading
Trump’s Pruitt Pick for EPA Signals Greater Predictability in Environmental Rulemaking, Enforcement
President-elect Donald Trump’s team announced yesterday his selection of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Pruitt pick is nearly as polarizing as the election itself. Pruitt describes himself as a “leading advocate against … Continue reading
What Massachusetts Employers Should Know About Recreational Marijuana
Originally posted on offtheclockemploymentblog:
On November 8, 2016, Massachusetts voters approved a ballot question legalizing marijuana for recreational and commercial use. The Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act (the “Act”) provides that – as of December 15, 2016 – persons…
On Solid Ground: The Mirick Real Estate Law Blog 