environmental-law

Groups Challenge PUC’s Latest Flawed Line 3 Approval in Court

Opponents of Enbridge’s proposed Line 3 pipeline filed a lawsuit with the Court of Appeals today challenging the Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC) approval of permits for the project.

Concerns Remain as Kinder Morgan Announces New Route for Destructive Permian Highway Fracked Gas Pipeline

Kinder Morgan CEO Steve Kean announced yesterday that the company plans to reroute the controversial Permian Highway fracked gas pipeline to go around the Blanco River, in response to public outrage over a spill during pipeline construction, the impacts of which Kinder Morgan has repeatedly downplayed, that left Blanco County residents without clean drinking water.

Groups Sue Trump Administration Over Harmful NEPA Rules

A broad coalition of justice and environmental groups sued the Trump administration today over its regulations that would gut environmental reviews and silence community input.

Sierra Club Comment on Supreme Court Order in Border Wall Challenge

Sierra Club Condemns Trump Administration’s Continued Attacks on Endangered Species Act

WASHINGTON,D.C. --- The Trump administration today released a new proposal that would severely limit critical habitat protections for endangered wildlife. The proposal runs counter to warnings of scientists around the world who have identified habitat loss as the single largest driver of species imperilment and a major contributing factor to pandemics, such as COVID-19. The new proposed definition of “habitat” seeks to prevent former habitat from being designated as critical habitat, even when that habitat has irreplaceable characteristics vital to the recovery of a species. It would also prevent areas that will be the last refuge for species harmed by climate change from being designated as critical habitat until it’s too late.

Sierra Club Appeals Duke Energy Indiana Rate Case

INDIANAPOLIS -- Today, the Sierra Club appealed the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission’s (IURC) decision approving a $146 million rate increase for Duke Energy Indiana’s customers.

Coal Mine Owned by WV Governor’s Family Held Liable by Federal Judge for Water Pollution

Charleston, WV -- Yesterday, the federal district court for the Southern District of West Virginia ruled that the Justice Group’s Red Fox coal mine was liable for more than 3,000 Clean Water Act violations. The lawsuit brought by the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition (OVEC), Appalachian Voices, and the Sierra Club contends that the mine was liable for exceeding its required discharge limits. The groups were represented by attorneys with Appalachian Mountain Advocates and Public Justice.

EPA’s Rollback of Clean Car Standards Under Investigation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the EPA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) announced its plans to evaluate the EPA’s rollback - finalized in March - of the clean car standards, which are the corporate average fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards for light duty vehicles (or CAFE).

Sierra Club and CLF File Appeal Against EPA’s Backwards Water Permit

WASHINGTON DC.--Today the Sierra Club and Conservation Law Foundation filed an appeal of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) water pollution permit for the Merrimack Station coal-fired power plant. The updated permit, which was finalized in May, failed to include critical water pollution protections that the agency had previously proposed. Unlike EPA’s prior proposal, the updated permit did not require the plant to install a modern cooling-water system.

Sierra Club, ACLU, SBCC Take Border Wall Fight to Supreme Court

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, the Sierra Club, American Civil Liberties Union and Southern Border Communities Coalition asked the Supreme Court to halt construction of President Trump’s border wall. In the motion, the groups urge the court to lift an earlier stay that allowed the Trump administration to divert $2.5 billion from military pay and pension funds for border wall construction that Congress explicitly denied.

Sierra Club Wins Lawsuit Over EPA Ozone Pollution Decision in West Michigan

n July 10, the D.C. Circuit court ruled in favor of the Sierra Club’s lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its decision to omit Ottawa County from the agency’s list of areas across the country that are out of attainment with health-based federal ozone (smog pollution) standards. A nonattainment designation triggers stricter rules for permitting new sources of pollution, and requires that the state come up with a plan to bring the area back into attainment. The Clean Air Act makes clear that any county with pollution contributing to monitored violations of an air standard should be designated nonattainment.

New York Advances Program for Utility Investment In Statewide EV Charging Network, With Focus on Disadvantaged Communities

ALBANY, NY– Today, the New York Department of Public Service (NYDPS) released an order for a “make ready” incentive program, allocating over $700 million in incentives for utilities to invest in electric vehicle charging across the state and expand workplace and public electric vehicle charging stations. $200 million will go directly to environmental justice and disadvantaged communities.