Water and Unconventional Energy: Dependent Resources

In April, Jim Bradbury traveled to Alaska to present to the American Water Resources Association on the relationship between water and unconventional energy production. His presentation addressed current issues in water usage, fluid waste disposal, and induced seismicity related to hydraulic fracturing. Access his presentation here.

WOTUS and Clean Water Act: Implications for Agriculture

Perhaps one of the most important and unsettled issues in environmental and agricultural law today is the ongoing development of the definition of jurisdictional waters under the Clean Water Act. Commonly referred to as WOTUS (Waters of the United States), the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers […]

District Judge Grants Preliminary Injunction to Halt EPA “WOTUS” Rule

On August 27, 2015, a North Dakota Federal District Court Judge granted a preliminary injunction to halt the implementation of EPA and Army Corps of Engineers’ new rule expanding the definition of “waters of the United States,” which was slated to take effect August 28, 2015. The action was brought […]

Increased Oversight of Hydraulic Fracturing Operations Needed to Protect Water Resources

On July 16, 2015, the Office of Inspector General of the Environmental Protection Agency released the report Protecting America’s Waters: Enhanced EPA Oversight and Action Can Further Protect Water Resources from the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing. The report evaluated how the EPA and states use existing authorities to regulate […]

The Food Sector and Global Water Risks

In May, Ceres issued the report Feeding Ourselves Thirsty: How the Food Sector is Managing Global Water Risks, which addresses the challenges faced by the food industry from growing threats of water scarcity and pollution. The food sector uses approximately 70% of the world’s freshwater resources. Competition, climate change, aging […]

Livestock Production in the Public Eye: Losing a Market Through Popular Media

In an age where vast amounts of information are available at the touch of a button, the public is looking for low-priced food that meets a media driven feel-good standard. Agriculture must strike a balance, and using traditional and social media, create and reinforce a message that will inform and […]

Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing Chemicals on Drinking Water

On June 4, 2015, EPA issued the Draft Assessment of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas on Drinking Water Resources. The Report is open for public comment and peer review. Since its release, EPA also released a supporting draft database that contains information on the 1,173 […]