Press Clips

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Renewing the landscape, Work begins to limit renewable energy’s impacts - Durango Telegraph

As the era of extractive carbon-based energy passes on, conservationists and politicians are working to ensure that renewable energy leaves a lighter mark on the earth.

Group Challenges Another Oil, Gas Lease Sale - The Daily Times

Western Environmental Law Center is challenging today's sale of 80 parcels of federal land in New Mexico and three other states.

Farmers got burnt in the end - Capital Press

Farmers have made changes. They are using more chemicals, and growing different crops. They have greatly reduced the number of acres burned, obtained burning permits, and are allowed to burn only when conditions are considered ideal by regulators.

Keeping the Reserve in Conservation - New York Times

The farmers certainly deserve sympathy, but the potential environmental damage caused by taking these lands out of conservation is far too great.

Sand Creek Byway on Hold - Red Orbit

Construction of the controversial Sand Creek Byway in Sandpoint has been temporarily blocked by an injunction issued by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

BLM rejects oil and gas lease protests - Las Cruces Sun-News

The BLM said it rejected the protests because the agency already addresses greenhouse gas emissions.

Grass Burning issue reignites in Oregon - Associated Press

The practice of grass seed burning has long been the bane of a number of Eugene-Springfield residents. The Eugene City Council and the Lane County Board of Commissioners have rallied against the practice in court and at the Legislature periodically over the past 30 years.

Owens Valley is the model of what to expect - Las Vegas Sun

As Las Vegas policymakers eye the water beneath Nevada, a scientific debate erupts over the possible effects.

Oil, gas lease protest breaks new ground - The Daily Times

Seven environmental groups are breaking new ground with their protest of an entire Bureau of Land Management oil and gas lease sale.

Greens ask ban on burning Oregon grass-seed fields - Associated Press

If air clear of the smoke from burning fields is a good thing for the Olympic athletes in town for 10 days, it ought to be a good thing for the people who live in the Eugene region year-round, environmentalists argue.

Asthmatics, Law Center Battle for Clean Oregon - Willamette Week

Feel free to take a deep breath, all of you asthmatics, small children, joggers, fast walkers, and, well, anyone else who enjoys clean air. For now, at least.

Olympic trials re-ignite field burning issue - The Oregonian

The Olympic track and field trials, a national sports spectacle that begins next week in Eugene, has stirred the embers of an ongoing environmental debate over field burning.

Law professor wants to use courts to fight global warming - Albany Democrat Herald

“It’s a theory that seems well-suited and perhaps ideal when you’re talking about who owns the atmosphere.” said Greg Costello, executive director of the Western Environmental Law Center.

You don’t even have to burn it. - High Country News

The Western Environmental Law Center has been busy filing legal challenges to BLM oil and gas leases around the West. Nothing new about that. What is new is that these challenges are based on potential impacts to global warming.

Groups challenge oil and gas leases - New Mexico Business Weekly

"This is the first time an entire lease sale in New Mexico has been protested because of greenhouse gas emissions," said Hans Stuart, the BLM's state communications chief.

Second Suit In 2 Days Targets Wolf Program - Red Orbit

For the second time in two days, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's management of the Mexican gray wolf recovery program was targeted by a federal lawsuit filed by conservation groups.

Environmentalists sue Outlook dairy over methanol emissions - Yakima Herald-Republic

While dairies across the country have been sued for various environmental threats, from contaminating water with liquid manure to illegal dumping in irrigation ditches, the lawsuit appears to be the first to target methanol under the federal Clean Air Act.

Environmental group files new lawsuit against Outlook dairy - Tri-City Herald

"The dairies and the agencies responsible for regulating them have ethical and legal obligations to limit the massive pollution they are causing and harm they are doing to the citizens of the Yakima Valley," said Charlie Tebbutt, Western Environmental Law Center

Proposed oil, gas leases in southern Colorado net protests - The Examiner

Proposed oil and gas leases on more than 140,000 acres in a national forest in southern Colorado, including roadless areas, generated several protests.

Citizens file suit against Washington dairy - Seattle Post Intelligencer

The group Community Association for Restoration of the Environment, also known as CARE, says DeRuyter Brothers Dairy in Outlook should be required to obtain permits under the Clean Air Act.

Drilling the Climate: Part I - This is a big deal - Daily Kos

This protest is groundbreaking. As far as I know, a protest of oil and gas leases based on the effects of climate change has never before been attempted. This is a big deal.

Forest Service Bid to Lift Wildlife Protections Met With Lawsuit - Environment News Service

A coalition of 14 conservation groups filed suit today in federal court to block the U.S. Forest Service from implementing a new rule that would remove protections for fish, wildlife, and other resources throughout the 192-million acre National Forest System.

Forest Service Tries Again With Revision of Forest Planning Rule - kgw.com

Conservation groups said they will be back in federal court to again challenge the rule, which was tossed out by a federal judge last year on procedural grounds. They argue that the Forest Service continues to refuse to analyze the potential for causing harm to the environment after taking out a long-standing system of protections for fish and wildlife habitat.

More drilling, more rules - Denver Post

Colorado is proposing a slate of regulations as oil and gas wells proliferate

Politicians ponder smoke-black summer skies - Register Guard

Opponents of field burning say there’s already enough evidence that the smoke is harmful and the commission has been remiss in allowing the practice to continue.

Village at Wolf Creek lawsuit settled - Durango Herald

"This lawsuit and the resulting settlement agreement make clear to the Forest Service and the developers that whatever is proposed for this site in the future will have to be done with full public disclosure and adherence to the highest environmental protection standards." said Geoff Hickcox with the Western Environmental Law Center.

Spotted owl critical habitat upheld by court - Eastern Arizona Courier

U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton in Phoenix upheld the critical habitat designation after a legal challenge by the Arizona Cattlegrowers Association, which had hoped to overturn the designation.

Environmental Groups File Suit Against Los Alamos Lab - The Daily Californian

Based on data collected by the laboratory, the groups allege that the PCB levels at some of the sites were more than 25,000 times than that of the New Mexico human health standards.

Spotted-owl protections upheld in four states - The Denver Post

Ranchers lose their challenge as 8 million acres of Western land is ruled "critical habitat."

Habitat for Mexican spotted owl to stand - San Jose Mercury

"This was a complete victory for the Mexican spotted owl," said Matt Kenna, attorney for the Western Environmental Law Center.

Editorial: Pete, Jeff, Tom: fight for LANL cleanup - Sante Fe New Mexican

Sens. Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman, along with Rep Tom Udall of the House Appropriations Committee, should insist on all the dollars it will take to clean LANL's fouled nest.

Environmental groups sue LANL over water - Sante Fe New Mexican

Organizations are worried that PCB pollution could get into the Rio Grande and drinking water.

Environmental groups sue Los Alamos lab over water - Las Cruces Sun-News

The lawsuit contends the lab has failed to comply with its national pollution discharge permit for 59 storm water sites.

Boats Could Face New Greenhouse Gas Regulations - The Log

According to data from the Western Environmental Law Center, greenhouse gas emissions from nonroad engines have increased at a faster rate (49 percent) than from motor vehicles or aircraft.

Brown targets off-road vehicles - Mercury News

Attorney General Will Ask EPA Today for Tougher Emission Rules. **This story appeared in several publications.

NICAN suing corps over bypass approval - Bonner County Daily Bee

"As the agency entrusted with protecting the region's aquatic resources, the corps shouldn't just rubber stamp the application to dredge and fill Sand Creek," said Matthew Bishop, an attorney with the Western Environmental Law Center.

Feds abandon appeal of forest management - Sierra Sun

Opponents to the rules had argued they weakened protection for wildlife and the environment to the benefit of the timber industry.

Energy corridor could divide Navajoland - Gallup Independent

Southwest electric transmission line corridor allows for “fast-track” approval of utility and power line projects, nullifying environmental laws, and enabling energy companies to condemn private land for new high-voltage transmission lines.

Critics hit energy corridor plans - Press Enterprise

A federal proposal to expand energy corridors throughout the Western United States could open the door to more development on public lands, critics charged.

Suit filed over federal agency plan for southwest energy corridor - Monterey Herald

The 70,000-square-mile southwest corridor crosses several national parks including Joshua Tree, as well as national monuments such as the Carrizo Plain and the Sonoran Desert. The area contains at least 95 threatened and endangered species. (This AP story appeared in numerous other publications)

Conservation Group Files Lawsuit Against Department of Energy Over Southwest Energy Corridor - ewire.com

Transmission Line Corridor Will Exacerbate Global Warming, Harm Public Health

Group sues to shut down power corridor - North County Times

An environmental group sued Thursday to overturn the federal government's designation of Southern California and Arizona as an electricity corridor of "national interest," something with big implications for a power line proposed for San Diego County.

Bush Administration Abandons Effort to Undercut National Forest Protections - Environment News Service

U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton found that Bush administration officials had bypassed legally required environmental review and endangered species protections in creating a new management system for the national forests.

Environmentalists Score Victory - Associated Press

The Bush administration has dropped its appeal of a 2007 court decision that had overturned new management rules for 191 million acres of national forests.

Washington State to sue EPA over tailpipe emissions - The Columbian

Governor Chris Gregoire rejected EPA Administrator Steven Johnson's argument that allowing states to adopt their own standards would result in a "confusing patchwork" of regulations across the nation.

California bid denied to lower greenhouse gas - The World

The Environmental Protection Agency slapped down California’s bid for first-in-the-nation greenhouse gas limits on cars, trucks and SUVs,

EPA turns down plans for auto emissions - Register Guard

“There will be a tremendous backlash against the (Bush) administration,” said S. William Becker, executive director of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies. “This strikes at the guts of the Clean Air Act and states rights.”

Dems Will Investigate Emissions Ruling - Associated Press

At issue is the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to block California and at least 16 other states from regulating greenhouse gases that come from new cars and trucks.

White Pass halts expansion work - Associated Press

The White Pass Ski Area has agreed to halt work on a major expansion project until a federal judge rules on an appeal by environmental groups seeking to block it.

Oregon governor promises legal action over EPA decision - Associated Press

Governor Kulongoski said that he will take any legal action necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles.

Judge says California can limit emissions - Associated Press

Handing a major defeat to the auto industry, a federal judge ruled Wednesday that California can regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles.

DOJ Seeks to Blunt District Judges' Nationwide Rulings - Greenwire

Western federal judges have repeatedly enjoined environmental laws in recent years at the behest of groups opposed to Bush administration forest, land and conservation policies. The administration has had enough.

Field burning debate will continue tonight - The Oregon Daily Emerald

When state legislators tried to pass a field burning ban in May, their efforts were extinguished when House Bill 3000 failed to make it to the floor for a vote, but those efforts to stop the burning have not been abandoned.

Oregon, other states sue EPA over auto standards - The Register Guard

With a battle cry of “EPA get out of the way,” California, Oregon and 13 other states filed suit against the federal government on Thursday.

New Mexico Will Demand the Most Comprehensive Greenhouse Gas Reporting in the Nation - Albuquerque Journal

Gov. Bill Richardson said, in a recent statement, that the reporting program is essential to the state's effort to address climate change.

Conservation group wins suit over forest records fee - Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

The U.S. Forest Service has relented in its efforts to charge a nonprofit conservation group for records that are expected to show the impact of unauthorized roads and recent policy changes upon national forests.

Montana group wins battle with US Forest Service - KPAX-TV

US Forest Service will have to release information without charge on the damage caused by off-road vehicles and unmaintained roads on 84 national forests around the West.

Conservation group wins battle for Forest Service records - The Oregonian

Release of this information will show what the agency knows, and what it doesn't know about the extent of damage unmanaged off-road vehicles and decaying roads are inflicting on public land, water and wildlife.

New Mexico moves to forefront of global warming issue - The Taos News

Operators of power plants, oil refineries and other sources of global warming pollution must report greenhouse gas emissions to the state.

Judge blocks new Wolf Creek roads - The Durango Herald

Ruling delays billionaire's plan to develop at ski area's base in threatened Canada lynx habitat.

Judge issues ski-village injunction - The Daily Camera

No groundbreaking can take place until Judge Kane decides whether to permanently block the development, said attorney Geoff Hickcox of the Western Environmental Law Center, which is representing the groups.

Judge issues injunction blocking work on ski village - The Denver Post

No ground will be broken for a ski village in southwest Colorado until a lawsuit aiming to block the development is heard in court, a federal judge ruled Thursday. (This AP story also appeared in the San Diego Tribune)

Gas Out - Santa Fe Reporter

The reporting program is about opening up the oil and gas industry to transparency and understanding what their global warming footprint actually is says Erik Schlenker-Goodrich, an attorney with the Western Environmental Law Center.

Get in Gear - The Columbian

Feds dragging their feet on auto emission standards.

Emissions Planning Under Way - ABQ Journal

The initiative comes as states across the country are taking steps to curb climate change in response to what critics consider a lack of leadership on the issue in Washington.

Let the lawsuits fly: EPA deserves to be target because of waiver delay - The Register Guard

The Western Environmental Law Center in Eugene filed notice that it will sue the EPA if it doesn't clear the way for Oregon's plan to cut emissions.

Local law clinic files intent to sue EPA - The Register Guard

Although a dozen states are prepared to adopt California's standards, the effort has been blocked by automaker pressure on the EPA, said U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Or.

Group threatens lawsuit against EPA over auto emissions - The San Diego Union Tribune

Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski and other Western governors also are demanding immediate action from the EPA. (This AP story also appeared in the Oregonian, KOMO News and keprtv)

Not another field burning study - The Oregonian

State environmental regulators ignore Oregon history by denying Lane County's plea to halt the annual fires.

Field burning study questioned - The Register Guard

Critics say a unit of the Oregon State University College of Agricultural Sciences may not be the best place for research on health effects of an agricultural practice.

Defending the Land - FIVE - Issue 18

Western Environmental Law Center takes a stand for our environment.

Biatholon facility bad for wildlife - Helena Independent Record

The nature of MacDonald Pass as both a wildlife corridor and as a quiet place for recreation would dramatically change as a result of the Biatholon project.

Panel snuffs field-burning ban - The Register Guard

After hearing testimony laced with jabs at Eugene, along with claims the public's health is at risk, the state Environmental Quality Commission declined to order an immediate ban on field burning based on research that smoke endangers people's lungs.

Agency won't discuss field burning this month - The Register Guard

"They need to make this decision. Delay is as bad as a negative decision because burning will continue while they're delaying," said Dan Galpern, attorney with the Eugene-based Western Environmental Law Center.

Conservation groups want lynx protected in New Mexico - 9News.com

Conservation groups from three states are asking federal wildlife officials to provide endangered species protections for the Canada lynx throughout its range in northern New Mexico.

Species manadate lifted from N.W. forest plan - Seattle Post Intelligencer

"This is another in a long line of administration attempts to rip out the last of our remaining old-growth forests," said Pete Frost, a lawyer for the Western Environmental Law Center. "And it is no more legal today than it was when the court declared it to be illegal two years ago."

Thirsty Las Vegas seeks more rural Nevada water - Las Vegas Sun

With one ruling in hand for billions of gallons of rural Nevada water, the water supplier for sprawling southern Nevada is pressing for billions of additional gallons a year - in a move that pits farmers and ranchers against developers eager to keep the gambling mecca booming.

Clearing the air: County weighs lawsuit to halt burning - The Register Guard

If Lane County sues to try to stop Oregon grass-seed growers from burning fields, it can win, said Stan Long, an attorney who spent the mid-1970s in court battling the practice for the city of Eugene.

Lawsuit targets Four Corners Power Plant emissions - The Durango Herald

"The Clean Air Act charges EPA with protecting the health of people who live near large pollution sources like power plants," said Matt Kenna, attorney for the Western Environmental Law Center in Durango. "Yet this plan does nothing but codify the status quo, which causes asthma in Navajo and other children, and impairs visibility in Mesa Verde National Park and the entire region."

Coughing Blood - The Eugene Weekly

Suffering the effects of field burning.

County takes field-burning case to state - The Register Guard

Emissaries from the city of Eugene and Lane County appearing before the environmental panel in Portland on Friday said the medical evidence on the danger of breathing particulate in smoke is overwhelming - especially when it comes to people with asthma, chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, emphysema and cardiovascular disease.

County weighs field burn suit - The Register Guard

Field burning is so hated in Lane County that the Board of Commissioners is talking about suing the 150 grass seed farmers who still use the practice to clear straw from their fields.

Alliance mounts fight against big dairies - The Oregonian

Community groups from at least 16 states, including Oregon, joined forces this week to fight against large-scale dairies.

EPA launches air emissions study - The Capital Press

The Environmental Protection Agency today announced the beginning of the first-ever nationwide study of air emissions from poultry, dairy and swine animal feeding operations.

Burning ban effort rekindled - The Register Guard

This latest effort to ban field burning is the brainchild of the Eugene-based Western Environmental Law Center, a nonprofit legal firm that represents environmental groups and other agencies across the Western United States.

Lane County considering new way to stop field burning - Associated Press

"The idea is to have the county, on behalf of people who live here, petition the state Environmental Quality Commission," said Lane County Commissioner Peter Sorenson.

LANL waste still seeps; watershed work still needed - The New Mexican

The Environment Department isn’t seeing any decrease in plutonium levels. And the Cerro Grande fire of 2000 left surrounding hills subject to greater erosion; storm-water runoff in some places is showing plutonium 16 times the safe-drinking-water standard.

Environmental group challenges state's CAFO permit - The Capital Press

Charlie Tebbutt, an attorney with the Western Environmental Law Center said the soil monitoring doesn't go far enough to prevent contamination. He said groundwater monitoring and enforcement is necessary to protect residents near large CAFOs.

Letter to the Editor: Put scientists in charge - Register Guard

Letter to the Editor by Greg Costello, WELC's Executive Director

Lawsuit targets interior official - The Denver Post

A lawsuit by nine environmental groups and San Miguel County contends the Bush administration made a political, not scientific, decision to keep the Gunnison grouse off the endangered species list.

It's Time to Ban Field Burning - West By Northwest

In 1998, Washington state banned open burning of grass seed fields after finding the public health costs to be too great. Oregon is now the only Northwest state in which field burning is lawful.

Major Nevada water-pumping decision released