environmental News

Plains All American Agrees to Pay $73 M to Settle California Oil Spill Lawsuit

Plains All American Pipeline has agreed to pay $72.5 million to settle a lawsuit over the 2015 Refugio Beach oil spill in Santa Barbara, a filing showed on Tuesday. The spill occurred after a pipeline, which ran across California’s coastline, …

The Rise of US Battery Energy Storage Systems and The Insurance Implications

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) development has been looming in U.S. energy markets for several years. Now, as capacity has begun expanding rapidly, the insurance claims are beginning to materialize in both construction and operational policies. For underwriters and claims …

PepsiCo Beats New York State’s ‘Predatory’ Lawsuit Over Plastics Pollution

PepsiCo won the dismissal of New York’s lawsuit accusing the beverage and snack-food company of polluting the environment with single-use plastic packaging, as the judge criticized the state’s attorney general, Letitia James, for bringing the case. Justice Emilio Colaiacovo of …

BHP, Vale Reach $30 Billion Brazil Settlement for Dam Disaster

BHP Group and Vale SA have signed a 170 billion-real ($29.8 billion) settlement with Brazil over the deadly Mariana dam collapse in 2015 at their iron ore joint venture. The settlement, which includes 38 billion reais, or about $6.7 billion, …

Walmart to Pay $7.5M to Resolve California Hazardous Waste Charges

Walmart will pay $7.5 million to resolve charges that the largest U.S. retailer illegally disposed of hazardous and medical waste from its facilities into California municipal landfills. The settlement was announced on Tuesday by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, following …

Hilcorp Fined $9.4 Million for Emissions of Methane and Volatile Gases

Hilcorp Energy Co., the privately held oil producer run by billionaire Jeff Hildebrand, will pay a $9.4 million civil penalty for failing to reduce emissions of methane and volatile gases in New Mexico. It’s the first settlement to address violations …

PFAS Contamination: Rising Costs for Insurers Amid a Regulatory Tsunami

The insurance industry faces a new wave of financial exposure as federal and state regulations surrounding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances become more stringent. Once hailed as miracle compounds for their water-repellent, non-stick, and heat-resistant properties, PFAS are now viewed with …

California Sues Exxon Over Global Plastic Pollution

California and several environmental groups sued Exxon Mobil on Monday and accused the oil giant of engaging in a decades-long campaign that helped fuel global plastic waste pollution. Speaking at an event during Climate Week in New York City, California …

Underwriters Wary of PFAS Amid ‘Superstorm’ of Litigation, Regulation

As litigation and regulation increase around per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), insurance underwriting is tightening across lines. Insurance professionals who specialize in PFAS say insurers are mandating coverage exclusions and, in some cases, declining to write liability policies at all …

Chevron to Pay $550 Million Settlement to Richmond, California

Chevron Corp. is to pay Richmond City Council $550 million over 10 years, the city said in a statement, in a settlement that saw it drop a proposed ballot on a new tax on the oil major’s Richmond refinery. Richmond …