Summary:  Earthjustice filed suit against the EPA to force it to finalize rules regulating the disposal and containment of coal ash, the leftover toxic residue from coal burning in power plants. The rules have been in development since 2008 and currently have a soft expected release date of sometime this summer.

“It is well past time the EPA acts on promises made years ago to protect the nation from coal ash contamination and life-threatening coal ash ponds,” Earthjustice attorney Lisa Evans said of the delay.

  Full Article:  http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/05/us-usa-power-coalash-idUSBRE83410Y20120405"

  Related Earthjustice Resources: 

• Press Release: Community Groups File Lawsuit for Federal Coal Ash Protections
• Case: Legal Fight For Long Overdue Coal Ash Protections

  Summary:  The European Union has taken steps to reduce greenhouse gas carbon pollution coming from airliners. New rules affect planes flying in and out of Europe, including those from the United States. The new rules are causing friction with airline companies and other nations not willing to address the problem.

Earthjustice attorney Sarah Burt expressed concern that a compromise, which U.S. and E.U. officials are currently discussing with the U.N. International Civil Aviation Organization, may not end up “stringent enough to make a real difference” in greenhouse gas reduction.

  Full Article:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/breakthrough-near-in-dispute-over-planes-emissions-officials-say/2012/03/28/gIQAJYEChS_story.html"

  Related Earthjustice Resources: 

• Press Release: Environmental Groups Hail Historic Court Decision Upholding European Law to Curb Airplane Pollution, Address Climate Change

  Summary:  A coalition of groups is suing the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to seek public disclosure of the chemicals used in the fracking process. Currently, state trade secret exemptions and lenient state administrators have allowed gas drilling companies to skirt around open records laws.

"The law requires that a company provide detailed support for its claim. Unfortunately, the commission has approved almost every trade secret request it has received regardless of how unsupported or overly broad these trade secret requests are," said Earthjustice attorney Laura Beaton.

Earthjustice is working with the groups and has filed a petition in court on their behalf.

  Full Article:  http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/b7cff3bfcfbd4c39be4b93296d827487/WY--Fracking-Disclosure-Lawsuit/"

  Related Earthjustice Resources: 

• Press Release: In Effort to Protect Public Health, Groups Seek Fracking Chemical Information

  Summary:  Arysta LifeScience Inc., a Tokyo-based chemical company, announced that it will cease U.S. distribution of the toxic pesticide methyl iodide. The controversial pesticide was approved for use in 2010, despite scientists’ warnings that it threatens groundwater and can cause cancer, brain damage, and miscarriage.

Greg Loarie, who lead Earthjustice’s lawsuit challenging California's approval of methyl iodide, celebrated the decision: "This way is more powerful than a court victory. It's a concession. It's them walking."

  Full Article:  http://articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/21/business/la-fi-strawberry-methyl-iodide-20120322"

  Related Earthjustice Resources: 

• Press Release: Cancer-Causing Methyl Iodide Pulled
• On Our Blog: Big Victory For Strawberry Lovers
• Case: California's Approval of Methyl Iodide Challenged