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The Latest by Raviya Ismail

Press Secretary

Raviya was a press secretary at Earthjustice in the Washington, D.C. office from 2008 to 2014, working on issues including federal rulemakings, energy efficiency laws and coal ash pollution.

January 22, 2013

Great News for Lungs

By Raviya Ismail  /  Washington, D.C. Office

We were thrilled in July when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled to uphold a clean air standard that limits dangerous intense bursts of sulfur dioxide pollution from power plants, factories and other sources. Sulfur dioxide is a pretty nasty agent that causes a variety of adverse health impacts …

December 17, 2012

Washington Post Highlights Toxic Fish in Anacostia River

By Raviya Ismail  /  Washington, D.C. Office

We have spent more than 15 years championing the need for cleaning up the Anacostia River (as well as the Potomac River and Rock Creek). And what better reason than the fact that several District and Prince George County residents depend on the river for sustenance. This disturbing (you’ll know why in a moment) Washington …

December 4, 2012

Tr-Ash Talk: Low-Income and Communities of Color Breathe More Dirty Air

By Raviya Ismail  /  Washington, D.C. Office

The results of a comprehensive study investigating the impacts of living near 378 coal plants in the United States have found that people of color and low-income communities are disproportionately more burdened by this pollution than any other segment of the population. Coal Blooded was pulled together by the NAACP, Little Village Environmental Justice Organization …

November 29, 2012

Lung Association Poll: Voters Want Soot Protection

By Raviya Ismail  /  Washington, D.C. Office

They have spoken! Nearly two-thirds of American voters are demanding stronger protections against one of the most dangerous and pervasive pollutants around: soot. Today, the American Lung Association released results from a national survey of 942 registered voters, finding that support for these clean air protections is broad and deep, with strong majority backing even …

November 19, 2012

Your Lungs Will Thank Us

By Raviya Ismail  /  Washington, D.C. Office

Last Wednesday, a group of clean air advocates intervened to protect crucial air safeguards that will curb pollution emitted during oil and gas drilling. Unfortunately the state of Texas and their allies with the American Petroleum Institute and a variety of other state alliances of oil and gas companies are pushing back against these necessary …

October 15, 2012

Tr-Ash Talk: Wash. Post Writes Politics, Coal Ash

By Raviya Ismail  /  Washington, D.C. Office

In our effort to raise awareness on the hazards of coal ash, we have written blog post after blog post, sent press releases, submitted editorials and letters to the editor. So we are mighty pleased that the Washington Post featured this important issue in a story today written by Juliet Eilperin. The story illustrates the …

September 27, 2012

Citizens Lodge Complaints About Baltimore Harbor Pollution

By Raviya Ismail  /  Washington, D.C. Office

In June, Earthjustice was dismayed when the Maryland Department of the Environment put out a proposal that failed to adequately reduce pollution from Baltimore Harbor. Tina Meyers of the Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper, who we work with on this issue, said: The Baltimore City stormwater pollution permit is meant to regulate the pollution that is discharging …

August 1, 2012

EPA Rules Would Give Teeth To TSCA Law

By Raviya Ismail  /  Washington, D.C. Office

Last week we spoke about the weaknesses in the current law protecting Americans from toxic chemicals. Today we submitted comments to EPA urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to move forward with health protections that would regulate polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) which are a group of toxic flame retardants. The health-protective actions we are urging …

July 24, 2012

Toxic Law's "Unsafe" Flaw

By Raviya Ismail  /  Washington, D.C. Office

At a Senate hearing about the EPA's authority to control exposures to toxic chemicals, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Cali.) wondered aloud: what would Americans say if asked whether they thought products containing poisonous chemicals are tested before being sold.

June 26, 2012

EPA's Carbon Pollution Standards Upheld

By Raviya Ismail  /  Washington, D.C. Office

Today has turned into a better day for our planet—and our lungs. In a landmark decision, the D.C. federal appeals court upheld every single one of the EPA’s carbon pollution limits. These EPA protections are in response to the Supreme Court’s 2007 ruling in Massachusetts v. EPA, and are important parts of the agency’s efforts …