By Sharon Franklin. The March 4, 2025 U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) decision has dealt a blow to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  The 5-4 decision effects the landmark Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972, which is the principal law governing pollution control and water quality of our nation’s waterways.  This case drew the attention of powerful business groups (National Mining Association and the US Chamber of Commerce), and was the first case concerning the CWA regulations since the June 2024 Chevron case.  This ruling effectively restricts the EPA from holding

By Gregory Kolen II. In communities across the country, women have long been the driving force of the environmental justice movement. From protesting toxic dumps to defending clean water, it’s often women – mothers, grandmothers, and daughters – who first speak out when their families’ health is at risk. This Women’s History Month, we honor the trailblazing women who turned personal concern into public action, launching campaigns to clean up neighborhoods and fight for a healthier, more equitable world. Their victories are both a celebration and a call to action,

By Juliet Porter. On February 24th, the trial against Greenpeace, filed by fossil fuel giant Energy Transfer, began in North Dakota. The company is pursuing a $300 million SLAPP suit—short for “strategic lawsuit against public participation”—a legal tactic designed to intimidate and silence activists. This lawsuit specifically targets Greenpeace, one of the most prominent environmental nonprofit organizations in the world, for its role in supporting protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). Though the pipeline was completed in 2017, Energy Transfer has strategically revived this legal battle years later, signaling

By Stephen Lester. Earlier this month marked the two-year anniversary of the horrific train derailment and the subsequent burning of train cars that changed the lives of pretty much everyone who lives in East Palestine, OH. The decision by Norfolk Southern to intentionally burn 5 tanker cars carrying vinyl chloride and other toxic chemicals released a toxic cloud of chemicals into the community. The community marked the two-year anniversary by holding several events while awaiting Vice-President JD Vance, former senator for Ohio who visited that day. Vance’s message was that

A New Study Is Being Launched By Sharon Franklin. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health announced in a recent article by Todd Datz, a multi-institutional collaboration study, L.A. Fire HEALTH Study.  This study is being undertaken by researchers from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Davis, the University of Texas/Austin and T.H. Chan School of Public Health, all of which have expertise in environmental exposure assessment, health outcomes, wildfire risk assessment, management, and data science.  https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/long-term-multi-institutional-study-on-health-impacts-of-los-angeles-wildfires-launched/ The study’s focus will be on wildfire hazards,

By Leila Waid. In January 2025, The Lancet Planetary Health journal published a literature review article outlining the best practices advocates should utilize when conducting outreach efforts with policymakers. The article, titled “Communicating with policymakers about climate change, health, and their intersection,” synthesizes lessons learned from over 139 peer-reviewed studies about how to persuade policymakers to address environmental justice issues effectively. The main takeaways include the need to effectively tailor the message, choose the best message avenue, prepare in advance to address and limit pushback, and utilize social media and