Lawsuit Challenges Corps/NOAA Approvals Of Columbia River Methanol Refinery; Says Threat To Listed Salmon, Orcas
November 14th, 2019
A lawsuit by environmental and public health groups that challenges approvals for a methanol refinery in Kalama, Wash. by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and NOAA Fisheries was filed this week in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in Tacoma.
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Federal Court Orders New Water Quality Plans For Many Of Oregon’s River Basins, Sets Schedules
October 10th, 2019
A federal court has ordered Oregon and federal pollution regulators to replace the existing water quality plans in many of Oregon’s river basins. The court also set schedules for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the federal Environmental Protection Agency to complete the new plans.
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Washington, Oregon Join Multi-State Lawsuit Challenging Trump Administration Rule Changes To Endangered Species Act
September 26th, 2019
Washington and Oregon filed a lawsuit this week challenging Trump Administration rules revising implementation of the Endangered Species Act.
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Who Sets Water Temperature Standards For Columbia/Snake Rivers? Arguments Heard In Ninth Circuit
August 27th, 2019
Opposing sides argued before a three-judge panel at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Seattle whether the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency should complete regulations for temperature, known as Total Maximum Daily Load, for the Snake and Columbia rivers, or whether completing the TMDL is the responsibility of Oregon and Washington.
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Groups Sue Over ESA Rule Changes; Say ‘Arbitrary, Capricious,’ Violate ESA Language
August 22nd, 2019
Seven environmental groups have filed a joint lawsuit challenging recent changes to rules for implementing the Endangered Species Act, declaring the changes amount to “an unprecedented weakening” of protections for endangered and threatened species.
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EPA Challenging In Ninth Circuit Lower Court Ruling On Columbia/Snake Temperature Limits; Oral Arguments Scheduled
August 14th, 2019
The Environmental Protection Agency is challenging a 2018 lower court decision at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that ruled the agency must complete temperature limits for the Columbia and Snake rivers.
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Trump Administration Issues Rules Revising ESA Implementation; Lawsuits On The Way
August 14th, 2019
The Trump Administration unveiled “improvements” to the Endangered Species Act’s implementing regulations this week, drawing immediate opposition and promised legal action from environmental groups and some political leaders.
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Washington State Seeks Public Hearings On EPA’s Efforts To Revise State’s Water Quality Standards, Fish Consumption Rule
August 8th, 2019
The Washington Department of Ecology is demanding the Environmental Protection Agency hold more than two “online public hearings” as the federal agency moves forward on efforts to revise the state’s “fish consumption rule” which guides water quality standards.
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Judge Denies Preliminary Injunction in Willamette Dams Salmon/Steelhead Case; Does Say Conditions Of Fish Worse Since 2008 BiOp
July 3rd, 2019
A federal judge has denied the request of three conservation groups to order a federal agency to make immediate changes at federal Willamette River dams to improve conditions for migrating juveniles and spawning adult threatened spring chinook and winter steelhead.