Consumers, politicians, agencies seek to address environmental issues via lawsuits, other means

Environmental lawsuits overview: 

• Who: Consumers, politicians, agencies and companies have recently been involved in environment-related issues, including the companies Exxon Mobil, Shell, Chevron, BP, ConocoPhillips, Hawaiian Electric, Chemours and DuPont.
• Why: The issues collectively revolve around concerns involving fossil fuels, a wildfire, forever chemicals, medicare coverage and restrictions on hydrocarbons. 
• Where: The environment-related issues affect consumers nationwide. 

A number of lawsuits, rulings, declarations and investigations have recently been in the news involving consumers, politicians, and agencies collectively seeking to address environmental concerns.

The issues revolve around concerns involving fossil fuels, wildfire, medicare coverage, forever chemicals in discharged wastewater and restrictions on hydrocarbons in refrigeration, heating and air conditioning products. 

California claims major oil companies hid environmental damage associated with use of fossil fuels

California filed a lawsuit against oil giants Exxon Mobil, Shell, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and BP in September over claims the companies lied about the environmental damage associated with the use of fossil fuels. 

The oil and gas companies are accused of concealing the known risks of climate change, which the state of California argues has prevented communities from taking critical action to prevent future environmental catastrophe. 

California argues that the oil and gas companies have known since as early as the 1960s that fossil fuels produce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas pollutants that affect the climate, and that there is a time limit in which action can be taken to prevent climate disaster. 

“While defendants have promoted and/or profited from the extraction and consumption of fossil fuels, the state and its residents have spent, and will continue to spend, billions of dollars to recover from climate change-induced superstorms and wildfires,” the climate lawsuit states.

Investigation into what started Lahaina wildfire could take up to 18 months to complete

The CEO of electric services company Hawaiian Electric told the House Energy and Commerce Committee late last month that it could take up to 18 months to complete an investigation into what started a deadly wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Aug. 8. 

Shelee Kimura told the committee that the company had already shut off its power lines prior to the start of the Lahaina fire, after its downed power lines appeared to have started a fire on the island of Maui earlier in the morning. 

“We are working tirelessly to figure out what happened and we are cooperating fully with federal and state investigators, who have indicated it may take 12 to 18 months to complete (the investigation),” Kimura said, as reported by Law360. 

Homeowners, shareholders and the families of victims have filed complaints against Hawaiian Electric in the wake of the wildfire, which killed almost 100 people, arguing the company did not shut off its power lines in time. 

The wildfire occurred one day after the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for severe fire risk due to dry and windy conditions on the Hawaiian island. 

Senators ask EPA to declare a public health emergency after Norfolk Southern derailment

A pair of senators in Ohio recently sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), urging it to declare a state of emergency in areas that were affected by the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. 

Senators Sherrod Brown and J.D. Vance said they want residents in the affected areas to have Medicare coverage so that they will have help with any future medical expenses that may arise due to being exposed to toxic chemicals due to the derailment. 

“If applicable, such a determination could provide residents of East Palestine with much-needed, additional resources, including Medicare coverage, as they cope with the lingering impacts of this preventable, man-made crisis by Norfolk Southern,” the letter states.

The senators argued the EPA is authorized to declare a public health emergency under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. 

Declaring a public health emergency would allow additional resources to be made available to the areas that were impacted by the Norfolk Southern train derailment. 

Chemours, DuPont contaminated Cape Fear River with PFAS, class action says

A federal judge in North Carolina approved a series of subclasses earlier this month in class action lawsuits that have been filed against chemical companies Chemours and DuPont by consumers arguing the companies damaged water systems in the state. 

The consumers claim Chemours and DuPont discharged per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into the water systems in the state of North Carolina, forcing them to purchase bottled water to consume water safe to drink. 

Chemours and DuPont are accused of contaminating the Cape Fear River with PFAS from the Fayetteville Works plant, with consumers arguing they have discharged 17 different chemicals into the water source in total. 

EPA bans hydrofluorocarbons from use in air conditioning, heating, refrigeration products

The EPA finalized a new restriction on hydrocarbons earlier this month and proposed a new regulation for the climate “super-pollutant.” 

Hydrofluorocarbons have now been banned from being used in air conditioning, heating and refrigeration products; manufacturers and importers must switch to an alternative between January 2025 and January 2028. 

The new rule is part of an effort by the Biden administration to reduce the use of hydrocarbons and other climate “super pollutants.” 

Have you been affected by any of the above environment-related issues? Let us know in the comments.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• EPA finalizes rule restricting hydrocarbons in refrigeration, air conditioning, heating products
• NHTSA officials recommend recall of 52M air bag inflators
• FDA announces updated draft guidelines for food manufacturing
• OH sens. seek public health emergency declaration in East Palestine to prompt Medicare coverage