Tag: Environmental Clinic: Cases and Projects

The Clinic worked with local and national NGOs to compile data about the environmental impacts of Hurricane Harvey, to review the pre- and post-hurricane governmental response, and to make recommendations for lessening future storm-related impacts and improving hurricane response.

The Clinic developed a memo exploring the use of riparian corridors to prevent flooding and protect water quality.  Students reviewed riparian corridor ordinances in cities across the country, identified best practices, and researched potential legal claims against cities that have created such corridors.

The Clinic co-counseled with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid on a Civil Rights Act Title VI complaint alleging that the construction of a new highway through a low-income, minority neighborhood, which was already overburdened with pollution sources, was discriminatory. Clinic student conducted legal research and drafted the complaint.  A multi-million dollar settlement was reached that provides […]

Surface water in Texas is allocated to users through a permit system.  As part of obtaining a permit, Texas wholesale water providers are required to submit a water conservation plan and the means for implementing and enforcing that plan. Wholesale providers must also ensure that their contracts with customers require those customers to develop and […]

Clinic students worked with a community group in the Rio Grande Valley to spur cleanup of a local superfund site.  The site is a reservoir used for subsistence fishing.  Since 1993, environmental agencies have documented extremely high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the fish caught from the reservoir.  Clinic students explained the superfund process […]

The Clinic co-counseled with a local law firm to represent Galveston Baykeeper in challenging the filling of wetlands by a Houston area developer without a permit.  Clinic students sent the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers a request for a jurisdictional determination, drafted a Clean Water Act notice of intent to sue, and provided research and […]

The Clinic is investigating statewide compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, researching common Texas violations, and identifying possible solutions and funding sources.  We are identifying system with long-standing, health-based violations and are developing a guide to help legal aid attorneys work with their clients and local public water systems to clean up unsafe drinking […]