Summary:  Despite a haze that threatens peoples’ health and obscures views in many of Texas’ national and state parks, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency a state haze plan with no new controls for state industrial plants. In Big Bend, Texas’ largest national park, at least one-third of the haze comes from manmade sulfate pollution.

Earthjustice attorney Michael Hiatt said he was unaware of any other state declining to add haze rules and that he hopes the EPA will reject the plan by its May 15 deadline.

  Full Article:  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/13/us/epa-weighs-texas-plan-to-cut-haze-in-national-parks.html"

  Summary:  The Denver Post featured an op-ed piece on the proposed Colorado roadless rule by Ted Zukoski, an attorney with Earthjustice, and Matt Reed. The following is an excerpt:

“Colorado's roadless forest lands are a tremendous asset to the state. They are a huge source of clean water for drinking. Overall, our national forests provide more than 50 percent of drinking water in the West. Letting industry carve roads into our backcountry forests threatens that source of pure water with erosion and pollution.

"Roadless areas are also the 'goose that lays the golden egg' for Colorado's economy. Forests are the engine for Colorado's $10 billion outdoor recreation economy, generating nearly $500 million in annual state tax revenue. We must protect these lands, not slice them into pieces if we are to continue to lure wildlife watchers, hunters, anglers and a wide range of other outdoor lovers who support our economic well-being.”

  Full Article:  http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20335843/guest-commentary-abandon-flawed-colorado-roadless-rule"

  Summary:  The EPA appears to be yielding to last-minute pressure by oil and gas companies by postponing for two weeks its first set of rules aimed at reducing methane and smog-forming emissions caused by fracking.

The court-ordered deadlines for these rules initially materialized after Earthjustice sued the EPA to compel rules governing fracking pollutants. Stressing the importance of tighter standards, Earthjustice attorney Robin Cooley expressed disappointment that the EPA “hasn’t gotten its act together.”

  Full Article:  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304023504577320001195356174.html"

  Summary:  Earthjustice is seeking a preliminary injunction to stop the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from issuing flood insurance policies in especially flood-prone areas near the Puget Sound, where development harms salmon and orca populations.

According Earthjustice attorney Jan Hasselman, FEMA has failed to respond to reforms outlined in 2008 by the National Marine Fisheries Service to prevent the insurance program from encouraging floodplain and salmon habitat destruction.

  Full Article:  http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/03/28/2085320/group-wants-moratorium-on-flood.html"

  Related Earthjustice Resources: 

• Press Release: Groups Move to Protect People, Property and Wildlife in Flood Prone Areas