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The Latest by Patrice Simms

Vice President of Litigation for Healthy Communities

A leading environmental attorney and legal scholar, Patrice began his career as an attorney in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of General Counsel, and later served as a counsel to the agency's Environmental Appeals Board. As a Howard University School of Law professor, Patrice taught, wrote, and spoke on various subjects related to environmental law and environmental justice.

Port Arthur, Texas, lives in the shadow of oil refineries.
April 30, 2020

As COVID Barrels Down on Communities, EPA Offers Polluters a Pass

By Patrice Simms & Hilton Kelley  /  Washington, D.C. Office

Patrice Simms and Hilton Kelley document how the Trump administration is using the virus as cover to give industries a wink and a nod that it will let them off the hook when it comes to emissions releases and reporting.

The U.S. EPA’s flag flies outside the Federal Triangle complex in Washington, D.C.
March 27, 2020

What EPA’s ‘Enforcement Discretion’ During COVID-19 Really Means

By Patrice Simms  /  Washington, D.C. Office

VP of Litigation Patrice Simms explains how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has used this tool in the past, but never with this breadth. And there is no end date.

The U.S. EPA’s flag flies outside the Federal Triangle complex in Washington, D.C.
January 16, 2020

EPA Sits on the Scales of Justice for Polluters With New Environmental Appeals Board Proposal

By Patrice Simms  /  Washington, D.C. Office

VP of Litigation Patrice Simms explains how the Trump administration is trying to institutionalize lawlessness and corporate cronyism in its most cynical form.

NEPA allowed these individuals to advocate for removing four dams on the lower Snake River to restore wild salmon runs. They are four of the more than 480,000 people who made their voices heard on this issue. Pictured, clockwise from the top left, are for
April 1, 2019

Trump Chips Away At The Shield Against Environmental Racism

By Patrice Simms & Angelo Logan  /  Washington, D.C. Office

To understand just how devastating such a rollback to core environmental law would be, we need only consider what the world was like before NEPA existed.

Activists protest outside the Supreme Court as Justice Brett Kavanaugh is sworn in.
October 12, 2018

The Fight Doesn’t End With Kavanaugh

By Patrice Simms & Brielle Green  /  Policy and Legislation Team & Washington, D.C. Office

The legal landscape for key environmental fights extends far beyond just the Supreme Court.

Brett Kavanaugh appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee, April 26, 2004.
September 4, 2018

Kavanaugh Guided by Industry, Not Rule of Law

By Patrice Simms  /  Washington, D.C. Office

We agree with the Heritage Foundation on this point: Let’s assess Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s record using the “Schumer Standard.” That’s exactly why the Senate should reject him.

Supreme Court
April 11, 2018

The American People’s Ability to Access Justice Through the Courts is Under Attack

By Patrice Simms  /  Policy and Legislation Team & Washington, D.C. Office

Earthjustice released a new report today detailing this all-out push to close the courtroom doors.

Attorney General Scott Pruitt of Oklahoma, speaking at the 2016 Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland.
December 15, 2017

Former EPA Lawyers Slam Pruitt on His ‘Patently Biased’ Handout to Polluters

By Patrice Simms  /  Washington, D.C. Office

Fifty-seven former attorneys to the agency signed an open letter criticizing Pruitt's conduct as EPA administrator.

A directive from EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and a bill in Congress seek to give industry the power to further delay or block public protections when the EPA misses legal deadlines.
October 25, 2017

Congress Moves to Bolster Pruitt’s Agenda of Delay, Delay, Delay

By Patrice Simms  /  Policy and Legislation Team & Washington, D.C. Office

Scott Pruitt’s EPA directive and a bill in Congress seek to give industry the power to further delay or block public protections when EPA misses legal deadlines.