Karen Hansen (Principal, Austin), Co-Chair of B&D's Water practice, was quoted on the implications of a major plastics pollution case in a National Geographic article titled, "How a dramatic win in plastic waste case may curb ocean pollution." The article discusses the settlement of a major citizen suit against Formosa Plastics for its alleged spills of tiny plastic pellets ("nurdles") along the Gulf Coast.

Under the settlement—potentially the largest in Clean Water Act citizen suit history—Formosa agreed to pay $50 million to support local conservation projects, scientific research, and sustainable fishing, in addition to taking action to stop and clean up the spills. In commenting on the implications of this settlement for the plastics industry, Karen said, "Those costs have gotten the attention of executives elsewhere in the industry. No company wants the liability that Formosa Plastics found itself with.” She went on to say that companies are now working to reduce potential exposure by proactively addressing management of plastics materials at their facilities.

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Supported by our Product Stewardship, Global Supply Chains, Litigation, and Enforcement practices, Beveridge & Diamond represents clients in a range of issues prompted by regulations affecting all aspects of the plastics life-cycle, as well as litigation and enforcement proceedings on issues arising from the growing convergence of water quality, stormwater, and wastewater issues. View the recordings from B&D's Circular Economy and Plastics Webinar Series on demand.