water-issues
Stormwater pollution flowing off of a scrap yard in NE Portland

Earthrise secures improvements to industrial stormwater discharge permits

Earthrise Law Center, on behalf of our clients Columbia Riverkeeper and Northwest Environmental Defense Center (NEDC), today successfully resolved a lawsuit challenging Oregon’s general permit for discharges of industrial stormwater
grant, philanthropy, water-issues

Thank You Rose Foundation

Thank you to the Rose Foundation for their grant to fund Earthrise’s Puget Sound work.
water-issues

Earthrise files suit against the City of Medford over its pollution of the Rogue River

On behalf of Northwest Environmental Advocates (NWEA), on May 16, 2018 Earthrise Law Center filed a lawsuit against the City of Medford, Oregon over its Clean Water Act violations that have caused harmful changes to the aquatic ecosystem in the Rogue River, a prized steelhead fishery in Southern Oregon.
sustainability, water-issues

Wild Fish Conservancy Sues Cooke Aquaculture Over CWA Violations Related to its Atlantic Salmon Farming Facilities in Puget Sound

On behalf of Wild Fish Conservancy, on Monday, November 13th, Earthrise filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Washington against Cooke Aquaculture for Clean Water Act violations related to the near-complete structural failure of its Atlantic salmon farming facility in Deepwater Bay off of Cypress Island in late August.
accomplishments, water-issues

Supreme Court Hears Arguments On Clean Water Rule Jurisdictional Issue

On October 11 the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in National Association of Manufacturers v. Department of Defense, a group of consolidated cases in which various environmental and industry petitioners are challenging EPA’s “Clean Water Rule.”
accomplishments, water-issues

Coalition Sues EPA Over Massachusetts Stormwater Permit Delay

On behalf of 10 watershed protection groups in Massachusetts, last Friday, September 22nd, Earthrise filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Massachusetts challenging the Trump EPA’s decision to stay the implementation of the state’s new municipal stormwater permit.
accomplishments, faculty, press, water-issues-feature, water-issues

Earthrise files brief with US Supreme Court over WOTUS

On behalf of our clients Waterkeeper Alliance, Center for Biological Diversity, Center for Food Safety, and several other organizations (“Waterkeeper”), Earthrise filed their opening merits brief in the U.S. Supreme Court on April 27, 2017, in the case captioned as National Association of Manufacturers v. Department of Defense, et al.
accomplishments, water-issues-feature, water-issues

Court Ousts Oregon’s Water Pollution Clean-up Plans, Too Hot for Salmon

Yesterday, Earthrise and its co-counsel, on behalf of Northwest Environmental Advocates (NWEA), won a challenge against Oregon’s illegal water temperature standards, which change goals from cold temperatures to hot—and sometimes even lethal for salmon and other imperiled cold-water species. 

accomplishments, student, video, water-issues

Earthrise Files Petition to Address “Zombie Permits”

Earthrise filed a petition today on behalf of the Northwest Environmental Advocates (NWEA), the Northwest Environmental Defense Center (NEDC), and fish advocate, Bill Bakke, seeking to force Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to address the enormous backlog of administratively continued Clean Water Act permits, known as “Zombie Permits.”
accomplishments, water-issues

Trump Instructs EPA to “Review and Rescind or Revise” Waters of the U.S. Rule

On February 28, 2017, President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) instructing the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers (the “Agencies”) to begin a rulemaking to rescind or revise the Clean Water Rule, a 2015 regulation that defined the phrase “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) as used in the federal Clean Water Act (CWA), thereby identifying those waters protected by the Act’s restrictions on pollutant discharges.
accomplishments, water-issues

Lawsuit Seeks New Toxic Standards for Washington State Waters

Today Earthrise filed a lawsuit on behalf of Oregon-based Northwest Environmental Advocates (NWEA) challenging EPA’s failure to respond to an 88-page petition submitted to the federal agency over three years ago, in October 2013. The petition seeks EPA’s action to update Washington’s water quality standards for toxics, primarily for the protection of aquatic life, such as salmon and steelhead.
accomplishments, water-issues
Earthrise Attorneys Lia Comerford and Kevin Cassidy

Green River Trial Final Stages- Earthrise Seeks Cleanup

Last week, Earthrise brought the Green River in Illinois one step closer to being restored after decades of concrete dumping along its banks by an adjacent landowner and owner of a demolition and trucking company. In federal court in Rock Island, Illinois, on behalf of Quad Cities Waterkeeper and Prairie Rivers Network, Earthrise attorneys Kevin Cassidy and Lia Comerford presented evidence about the harm the unauthorized concrete dumping has caused to their clients and the Green River and urged federal judge Sara Darrow to order and oversee a comprehensive restoration plan.
accomplishments, water-issues
Deception Pass Washington State Island in Puget Sound

Washington’s Refusal to Operate under Coastal Protection Law Could Lose the State Federal Funding

Longtime partners, Northwest Environmental Advocates (NWEA), represented by Earthrise attorney Allison LaPlante and Seattle attorney Paul Kampmeier of Kampmeier & Knutsen filed a lawsuit today against the EPA and NOAA for their failure to force Washington State to control polluted runoff in the state’s coastal watersheds, including Puget Sound. The lawsuit aims to force the agencies to impose Congressionally-mandated funding cuts on the State of Washington for failing to comply with a law that requires the state to protect coastal water quality.
accomplishments, water-issues

EPA on Notice for Violations of the Endangered Species Act in New England

The Center for Biological Diversity and Northwest Environmental Advocates notified the Environmental Protection Agency last week that they plan to sue the agency for failing to consider the needs of endangered salmon and sturgeon when approving state water-quality standards in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Connecticut.
accomplishments, water-issues

Magistrate Recommends NWEA Wins Suit Over Oregon Water Temperature Standards

Earthrise, along with co-counsel, Bryan Telegin, received a ruling from a federal magistrate judge this week recommending that our client, Northwest Environmental Advocates (NWEA), should win its suit challenging Oregon’s plans to clean up temperature and mercury pollution in Oregon’s rivers.
accomplishments, water-issues

Earthrise Victory in Illinois: Concrete Dumping Violated Clean Water Act

In a precedent setting case, United States District Judge Sara Darrow, of the Central District of Illinois, ruled on September 29 that maintenance of an otherwise unpermitted levee is not exempt from the federal Clean Water Act.
accomplishments, water-issues

Earthrise and NWEA Threaten Federal Lawsuit to Protect Puget Sound from Polluted Runoff

Earthrise attorney Allison LaPlante, representing Northwest Environmental Advocates (NWEA) is threatening the EPA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with a lawsuit in 60 days over their failure to protected coasted threatened and endangered species in Washington State.
accomplishments, water-issues

Public Nuisance PCB Suits Against Monsanto Could Have Far-Reaching Impact

“A recent flurry of suits by West Coast cities—seeking to hold Monsanto liable for allegedly polluting public waterways with PCBs it made decades ago—represents an intersection of hazardous waste and product liability law that could have a far-reaching impact on industrial product manufacturers, attorneys and scholars tell Bloomberg BNA.” Professor Craig Johnston spoke to Bloomberg BNA on what this could mean for hazardous waste law. 

accomplishments, endangered-species-issues, water-issues

FEMA Gets Legal Wake Up Call, Must Consider Salmon Habitat: Interview with Attorney Dan Rohlf

Dan Rohlf, Professor of Law and a Founding Member of Earthrise Law Center at Lewis & Clark Law School, discusses the changes FEMA must make to its flood insurance program to protect riparian areas crucial for wildlife – especially salmon.
accomplishments, water-issues

EPA Must Update Toxic Pollutant Water Quality Standards for Oregon

On behalf of Northwest Environmental Advocates (NWEA), Earthrise has successfully resolved a lawsuit compelling the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promulgate new water quality standards for the State of Oregon.
accomplishments, water-issues
Salmon River in Idaho. A new court order requires EPA to set better arsenic standards for the state's waterways.

NWEA Win Forces EPA to Establish Safer Arsenic Standard for Idaho Rivers

In a federal court-signed order today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agreed to retract its 2010 approval of Idaho’s water quality standard for arsenic.
accomplishments, collaboration, student, water-issues
Connecticut River near Chang Farm

Earthrise Reaches Settlement to Protect the Connecticut River

Earthrise protects another river from polluters! Yesterday, the District of Massachusetts federal court approved a settlement that will require Chang Farms to comply with its Clean Water Act permit and cease its illegal discharges into the Connecticut River.
accomplishments, water-issues
Invasive Zebra Mussel

Earthrise Wins Huge Case Against EPA Over Ballast Water

Today, the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Vessel General Permit (VGP) that governs the discharge of 21 billion gallons annually of ballast water—laden with invasive species—to the nation’s waters.
accomplishments, community engagement, law, newsletter, open to the public, water-issues
Pileated woodpecker

Rising Issues #11 Victories on Land AND Water

Read about our victories in the Snow Basin Timber Sale and Buffalo River cases.
accomplishments, water-issues
Connecticut River near Chang Farm

Earthrise working to stop long-running pollution of the Connecticut River in Massachusetts

Earthrise working to stop long-running pollution of the Connecticut River in Massachusetts, sending notice of intent to sue letter to Chang Farms in Whately, Massachusetts.
environment, grant, send-to-feature, water-issues

Earthrise Fights to Strengthen Water Quality Standards

Earthrise filed suit on Friday, April 20th to fight to strengthen water quality criteria in Oregon for aluminum, ammonia, cadmium and copper.
accomplishments, media appearances, newsletter, student, water-issues-feature, water-issues
Santa Clara River

Rising Issues #10, Spring 2015, Earthrise Wins Major Clean Water Act Case

Earthrise settled a major case against Magic Mountain theme park in California. Read, and hear, all about it in our recent newsletter!
civic engagement, environment, water-issues
Hogs in a CAFO

Hogs and the Buffalo River

Earthrise’s client, the National Park Conservation Association, has put out a great new video about the threat of waste from a hog farm near the Buffalo River and the reasons we are working with our clients in the fight to protect this national treasure. Please take a couple minutes to check it out!
accomplishments, community engagement, environment, water-issues
Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station

Earthrise deals blow to nuclear power plant in Massachusetts

Judge’s ruling on standing prevents spent nuclear fuel from endangering community
environment, faculty, media appearances, staff, water-issues
Bonneville Dam

Victory that will slash toxic pollution in Columbia and Snake Rivers

Earthrise Director Craig Johnston recently spoke on Oregon Public Broadcasting about the historic victory against the Army Corps of Engineers regarding oil pollution from Pacific Northwest dams.
accomplishments, alumni, education, mentorship, newsletter, staff, water-issues

Rising Issues #7 Spring 2014

Spring Newsletter: Update on Chesapeake Bay TMDL Case, Alumni Highlight, Craig Johnston runs the Boston Marathon and Staff Transitions.
endangered-species-issues, environment, law, newsletter, water-issues

Rising Issues #6 Winter 2014

The winter edition of Rising Issues: CRC, VGP, Dan Mensher, and more!
environment, law, public-lands-issues, water-issues
Buffalo National River, Arkansas (National Park Service)

Arkansas DEQ Misrepresented Hog Waste Water Monitoring

2/12/14 - A press release issued today reports on a letter sent on behalf of Earthrise’s clients, charging the Arkansas DEQ with monitoring water for hog waste contamination in the wrong fields.
education-issues, education, endangered-species-issues, environment, law, newsletter, public-lands-issues, water-issues

Rising Issues #5 Fall 2013

10/30/13 - Federal laws are for the birds…and the national rivers! Read about our work protecting national treasures in our latest newsletter.
climate-issues, endangered-species-issues, environment, law, water-issues
Interstate Bridge in 1917

CRC Contradictions in the News

10/17/13 - Earthrise Managing Attorney Tom Buchele is quoted in a Willamette Week article about the latest on the proposed Columbia River Crossing.
sustainability, water-issues
Professor of Law Dan Rohlf (right) accepted the Salmon-Safe certification at the annual Sustainability In Portland event.

Lewis & Clark earns Salmon-Safe certification

This fall, Lewis & Clark became the first private college to achieve Salmon-Safe certification.
environment, law, public-lands-issues, water-issues

KATV Reports on the Buffalo River Lawsuit

9/13/13 - KATV (Little Rock) reports on a fundraiser for the lawsuit brought by environmental groups against a hog farm near the Buffalo National River in Arkansas. Earthrise is of counsel on the suit.
accomplishments, civic engagement, climate-issues, education-issues, environment, law, newsletter, public-lands-issues, student, water-issues

Rising Issues #4 Summer 2013

8/23/13 - Read the summer edition of our newsletter, Rising Issues, featuring our latest achievements, our summer externs, staff transitions at Earthrise, and more!
environment, law, public-lands-issues, water-issues
Buffalo National River, Arkansas (National Park Service)

Conservation Coalition Files Suit to Protect Buffalo National River

8/7/13 - A coalition of conservation and citizen groups, represented by Earthjustice, Earthrise Law Center, and local attorney Hank Bates, filed suit in federal court yesterday to challenge approval of a hog farm near the Buffalo National River in Arkansas.
civic engagement, community engagement, education-issues, endangered-species-issues, environment, law, water-issues

Earthrise Clients Win SLAPP Suit in Federal Court

7/24/13 - In an opinion released Monday, a federal judge in Portland ruled in favor of the defendants in a case that had all the earmarks of a classic SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation).
environment, grant, law, water-issues

Earthrise Awarded Grant from the Jackson Foundation

7/8/13 - The Jackson Foundation has awarded Earthrise Law Center a $2,000 grant for the Oregon Waters initiative.
environment, grant, law, public-lands-issues, water-issues

Mountaineers Foundation Awards Community Grant to Earthrise

6/28/13 - The Mountaineers Foundation has awarded Earthrise Law Center a Community Grant for the second year in a row. The $3,000 grant will support the Oregon Waters initiative.
environment, law, public-lands-issues, water-issues
Buffalo National River, Arkansas (NPS)

Earthrise Helping to Protect Country’s First National River

5/8/13 - Earthrise is representing a coalition of environmental groups opposing a hog farm that could threaten the watershed of the Buffalo National River in northwest Arkansas.
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