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March 21, 2018
Challenging environmental civil rights violations in Beaumont
In spring 2018, the Clinic worked with Earthjustice and the Yale Environmental Justice Clinic to require the Environmental Protection Agency to respond to a civil rights complaint filed over a decade ago by Sierra Club and a Beaumont pastor. The complaint alleged that issuance of a permit to allow increased air emissions in the Charlton-Pollard […] -
March 21, 2018
Enforcing the Clean Water Act to stop illegal discharges of plastic pellets into Lavaca Bay
The Formosa plastics plant illegally discharged plastic pellets and residue into local streams and bays for over a decade. Clinic students worked with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid on a Clean Water Act (CWA) citizen suit for the discharge of such pellets on behalf of clients, including Texas Injured Workers and Commercial Oystermen of Texas. Formosa […] -
March 21, 2018
Filing Fifth Circuit amicus brief supporting Clean Air Act citizen suit enforcement
The Clinic is co-counseling with Earthjustice on the brief on behalf of the City of Houston, the Harris County District Attorney’s office, and Air Alliance Houston. The brief supports the district court’s finding of violations and penalty assessment in an enforcement action for illegal air emissions, including emissions of hazardous air pollutants, at a Houston […] -
March 21, 2018
The Clinic is co-counseling with Lone Star Legal Aid on a Clean Air Act citizen suit for illegal air emissions. Students are compiling evidence of violations and drafting a notice of intent to sue and standing documents. -
March 21, 2018
The Clinic is compiling a guide to help communities understand how to access information related to chemical hazards in their neighborhoods and how to participate in local emergency planning committees. -
March 21, 2018
The Clinic is conducting research into historic lead contamination, the adequacy of lead remediation, and blood lead levels in West Dallas. We are evaluating whether additional soil clean ups are needed in the area. -
March 21, 2018
Filing Texas Supreme Court amicus brief supporting Laredo’s single use bag ban
The Clinic filed an amicus brief on behalf of the Turtle Island Restoration Network supporting the City of Laredo’s authority to enact a single-use bag ban. -
March 21, 2018
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. -
March 21, 2018
Researching the viability of a riparian corridor ordinance for a local government
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. -
March 21, 2018
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 […]
