Lewis & Clark News

Clean Water: Still Relevant at 50 — Webinar April 8

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 07:00:00 -0700

Legal experts and scholars discuss the impact–good and bad–of the CWA over five decades.

Suit Challenges EPA Exemption of California Power Plant From Pollution Laws

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 07:00:00 -0700

A coalition of conservation and environmental justice groups today challenged the federal air pollution permit for the Avenal Power Plant proposed in the San Joaquin Valley. In a controversial decision, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency exempted the project from several key air pollution standards. The facility, proposed to be built by Texas-based Macquarie Energy, is targeted near the rural communities of Avenal and Kettleman City in California’s San Joaquin Valley, which already has some of the most polluted air in the country. The coalition filed legal papers with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the permit issued by the EPA.

EPA Reaches Title VI Civil Rights Agreement with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 07:00:00 -0700

On August 25, 2011, the U.S. EPA took an important step in protecting civil rights and working for environmental justice by entering into an agreement with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) to resolve a civil rights complaint filed in 1999 under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI). Title VI prohibits intentional discrimination and discriminatory effects on the basis of race, color, and national origin by recipients of federal financial assistance. By entering into this Agreement, EPA is delivering on its steadfast commitment to protecting and advancing civil rights, reforming the Agency's Title VI program, addressing the backlog of complaints and providing effective enforcement of Title VI.

An Unreliable Housing Audit: A city-funded housing audit misrepresented evidence, making discrimination in Portland look worse than it really is

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 07:00:00 -0700

In May, Portland got smacked in the face with embarrassing news: Nearly two of every three times they sought a place to rent, African-American and Latino renters found evidence of discrimination from the city's landlords.The news came from an audit paid for by the city of Portland and conducted by the nonprofit Fair Housing Council of Oregon. The audit claimed minority testers ran across evidence of potential discrimination 64 percent of the time they talked to landlords or rental agents.

Meeting on Williams bike project turns into discussion of race, gentrification

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 07:00:00 -0700

A recent meeting that was meant to discuss a new outreach campaign on N. Williams Avenue turned into a raw and emotional exchange between community members and project staff about racism and gentrification.