clean-water

EPA Plans to Undercut State Authority to Protect Clean Water from Pipeline & Other Infrastructure Projects

Today, the Trump administration announced a plan to limit the authority of states and tribes to protect clean water from pollution resulting from pipelines and other major infrastructure projects during the permitting process.

North Carolinians tell NCDEQ to Deny Water Permit for SSEP

RALEIGH, N.C. - More than 750 North Carolinians have spoken out against the proposed Southeast Supply Enhancement Project pipeline, telling the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to deny the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project pipeline a water quality permit.

Trump Tower Chicago Agrees to Comply with Clean Water Act, Pay Record $4.8 Million Settlement for Years of Environmental Violations

Chicago, IL – Chicago’s Trump International Hotel & Tower has agreed to cease its illegal killing of aquatic life, bring its water intake structure into compliance with the Clean Water Act (CWA), and pay a record $4.8 million settlement after years of operating in violation of federal and state environmental law. The settlement is the result of a lawsuit filed by Friends of the Chicago River, the Sierra Club, and the Illinois Attorney General in 2018 after the Sierra Club discovered the Trump Tower cooling water intake violated state and federal law during a routine permit review.

Environmental Groups Give Notice of Intent to Sue for Toxic Discharges from Ottumwa Coal Ash Landfill

DES MOINES, Iowa — Today three environmental groups notified Alliant Energy’s Iowa affiliate of their intent to sue for unpermitted discharges of polluted groundwater that is pumped out from under an Ottumwa coal ash landfill. The notice letter, which is required before filing suit under the Clean Water Act, allows 60 days for the discharger to come into compliance or for the state to begin enforcement action.

EPA Announces $328 Million to Colorado and Denver Region from Inflation Reduction Act’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program

Denver, Colo. – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Colorado and the Denver Regional Council of Governments were awarded $328 million in funding from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program. 

Sierra Club Statement on EPA Announcement of $3 Billion in Safe Drinking Water Funding

Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $3 billion in funding to help states and territories identify and replace lead service lines, preventing exposure to lead in drinking water.

Sierra Club Tahoe Area Group and California Sportfishing Protection Alliance Announce Lake Tahoe Lawsuit Victory

South Lake Tahoe, CA – The Sierra Club Tahoe Area Group and the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA) are thrilled to announce victory in their lawsuit against herbicide discharges into the Tahoe Keys lagoons connected to Lake Tahoe. In January 2022, the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board issued a permit allowing the first ever discharge of herbicides  into Lake Tahoe’s waters.

Groups Intervene in State Action to Stop Aluminum Smelting Plant’s Illegal Dumping of Heavy Metals in Ohio River

Evansville, IN -- The Sierra Club and Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) filed a motion today to intervene in the State’s lawsuit against the Alcoa Warrick aluminum smelting plant in Indiana for repeated violations of Indiana and federal clean water laws. 

The groups are taking this action to finally end Alcoa’s pollution of the Ohio River with toxics like mercury and to ensure that the company will be held accountable for its 100+ permit violations over the last two years.

Sierra Club Statement on President Biden’s Announcement of $5 Billion in Funding for Rural Communities

Washington, DC – Today, during a stop on the White House’s Investing in Rural America event series, President Biden will announce more than $5 billion in funding for rural communities, made possible largely through the landmark Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Groups Urge EPA to Regulate Coal Pollution from Uncovered Rail Cars

Washington, D.C. -- Today Sierra Club, Public Justice, and several other environmental and public health organizations filed a petition for rulemaking with the EPA, calling upon the agency to stop harmful coal pollution from open-top trains carrying coal by requiring coal train operators to obtain a permit for their water pollution.

Montana Youth Trial Win a Historic Climate Moment

Helena, MT - A  judge ruled in favor of Montana youth climate plaintiffs today, declaring the state is violating its own constitution by not protecting the right to a clean environment. Held v. Montana was the first-ever youth climate case to go to trial in the U.S. and now is the first victory, setting a precedent for further lawsuits.

Sierra Club Statement on Sackett v. EPA Supreme Court Ruling

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, a five-Justice conservative majority of the Supreme Court ruled to gut clean water protections for millions of Americans. The case, Sackett v. EPA, is a corporate polluter-backed effort to dismantle the Clean Water Act by narrowing the definition of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS). The Court’s decision will open millions of acres of wetlands – all formerly protected by the Clean Water Act – to pollution and destruction, including by negating many of President Biden’s wetland protections in his new WOTUS rule released last year. The majority decision – delivered by Justice Alito and joined by Justices Roberts, Thomas, Gorsuch, and Barrett – puts the drinking water supplies of millions of Americans at risk.