Pollution

Hawaii County Nears Settlement in Lawsuit Over Honokohau Harbor Pollution

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Honolulu, Hawaii – A Honolulu federal court was informed of a preliminary agreement between a local citizens’ group and Hawaii County concerning a longstanding issue of sewage discharge into Honokohau Harbor, North Kona. The settlement, which hinges on the approval of the County Council, seeks to address allegations of environmental pollution stemming from local wastewater management practices. The group, Hui Malama Honokohau, represented by Earthjustice, has been embroiled in a lawsuit with the county over what they claim are violations of the federal Clean Water Act at the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant. The plant reportedly … Read more

Iowa Lawyer Champions Environmental Justice, Targets Pollution in Legal Battles for Clean Water Rights

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Iowa City, Iowa — As pollution continues to impact Iowa’s environmental landscape, seasoned lawyer Jim Larew, 70, has committed the remainder of his career to legal battles aiming to safeguard the state’s most vulnerable waters. At the heart of these efforts is a fledgling movement in Northeast Iowa, a region valued for its relatively pristine streams in an area known as the Driftless Region. This area, unique for its lack of glacial sediment drift, features terrain that, while picturesque with its spring-fed streams and caves, is particularly susceptible to surface pollution. In 2022, Larew and … Read more

Maryland Court Enforces Stricter Pollution Controls on Eastern Shore Poultry Plant Amid Environmental Concerns

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ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A Maryland court has mandated tighter pollution controls at an Eastern Shore poultry rendering facility following a judge’s ruling that sided with environmental groups. The Dorchester County Circuit Court concluded that the state’s previously issued discharge permit for Valley Proteins did not adequately protect local water bodies. This ruling requires the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to revise the permit to impose stricter regulations and ensure better water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The plant, which converts poultry byproduct into pet food, sits along the Transquaking River, a tributary of … Read more

Federal Judge Keeps Hope Alive for Manatees, Refuses to Dismiss Florida Lawsuit Over Lagoon Pollution

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Orlando, FL — A groundbreaking lawsuit is testing Florida’s commitment to its endangered species as the state grapples with the fallout of persistent sewage discharges into the Indian River Lagoon, pointing fingers at the state’s practices that have allegedly driven manatees to the brink. A federal judge this week allowed the legal challenge by Bear Warriors United, an environmental group, to proceed, outlining a battle over the survival of the state’s treasured but struggling marine mammal population. In a recent decision, U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza dismissed a motion by the Florida Department of Environmental … Read more